Senior Software Engineer (R&D / Prototyping)

Kforce has a client in Phoenix, AZ (Hybrid - 3+ days onsite) that is seeking a Senior Software Engineer. About the Role: We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to drive the design and development of prototypes, proofs of concept (PoCs), and pilot-ready solutions that validate technical feasibility and enable rapid innovation. We are working directly with the hiring manager on this search assignment. Company offers a competitive compensaton package including base salary and annual bonus. This role operates at the intersection of software, hardware, and cloud systems, making it ideal for engineers who excel in hands-on, R&D-driven environments. You will work across lab and field settings, building solutions that may evolve into production systems. Key Responsibilities:

• Design and build prototype applications using C#, .NET, SQL Server, and Microsoft Azure
• Develop APIs, integrations, and telemetry systems connecting software with devices and external platforms
• Build cloud-native solutions leveraging Azure, Docker, and Kubernetes
• Implement AI-assisted capabilities (automation, diagnostics, analytics, decision support)
• Rapidly develop PoCs to validate emerging technologies and workflows
• Integrate software with edge devices, sensors, and telemetry systems
• Support lab testing and field validation of integrated solutions
• Develop diagnostics, logging, and monitoring tools
• Troubleshoot across hardware, firmware, networking, cloud, and application layers
• Participate in field deployments, testing, and post-analysis
• Define prototype objectives, success criteria, and evaluation metrics
• Document architecture decisions, trade-offs, and technical findings
• Evaluate emerging technologies such as IoT, edge computing, and AR/spatial computing

Leadership

• Contribute to architecture reviews, code reviews, and Agile workflows
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related field
• 8-10+ years of software engineering experience
• Strong expertise in C# and modern .NET
• Hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure and cloud-based development
• Experience with SQL Server or similar relational databases
• Background in prototyping, PoCs, or experimental systems
• Experience integrating software with hardware, or telemetry, or external systems
• Strong troubleshooting skills across distributed systems
• Experience with CI/CD, DevOps, Git, and automated testing
• Excellent communication and documentation skills

Nice to haves:

• Experience with IoT, edge computing, or connected devices
• Background in robotics, industrial automation, transportation, aerospace, or defense
• Familiarity with device communication protocols and diagnostics
• Experience with Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud-native architectures
• Experience supporting lab and field testing environments
• Knowledge of event-driven systems and observability tools

Ideal Candidate Background:

• IoT/Edge Computing
• Robotics/Autonomous Systems
• Medical Device
• Industrial Automation
• Transportation/Connected Vehicle Platforms
• Aerospace/Defense
• Applied R&D/Prototyping Teams
• Or other similar industries

This role does not require embedded firmware or electrical engineering experience, but candidates must be comfortable working with hardware-integrated systems and solving cross-domain technical challenges.