Senior C++ Programmer - COMPASS Ecological Model

Job Title : Senior C++ Programmer COMPASS Ecological Model



Location : Hybrid/On-site - Seattle, WA



Department : Government Contracts



Job Type : Full-Time/Contract - Base Year with two Option Years (10/01/2026 09/30/2029)

About Prestige Development Group (PDG)
Prestige Development Group (PDG) specializes in providing innovative human capital management solutions tailored to meet the needs of both private and public sector organizations. We are a certified SBA HUBZone and Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business dedicated to fostering diversity, inclusion, and operational excellence.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior C++ Programmer with applied ecological knowledge to support a federal agency client on a mission-critical fisheries ecology modeling system. This complex, ~230,000-line object-oriented C++ application (built under Qt 6/C++17 with Boost) predicts the effects of dam and reservoir operations on juvenile salmon and steelhead survival and passage through a major hydropower river system. This role is integral to maintaining and expanding an essential decision-support tool that informs hydropower operations and fisheries management under federal environmental and species protection regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete development of the application's graphical user interface (GUI), including expanded functionality for editing model parameters and environmental data (such as flow and temperature), and build the installer package following documented processes.
• Complete development of a passage module simulating upstream migration, including delay at structures, passage timing, travel time/survival in reservoirs, fallback, and harvest-related losses, calibrating parameters using telemetry and tagging data in collaboration with project scientists.
• Implement future modifications requested by regional stakeholders to support natural resource management decisions, including scenario-based analyses used to inform operational and regulatory evaluations.
• Perform routine maintenance and minor modifications to preserve and improve model performance and functionality, including managing runtime efficiency for both standard and large-scale batch simulation runs.
• In future phases: expand the model to include additional habitat travel time/survival modeling, species-specific life history behaviors, and movement/survival modeling in estuarine or tidally-influenced environments.
• Troubleshoot and debug the application in coordination with client technical staff, and implement new ecological features as needed.
• Provide regular (weekly to monthly) progress reports on code changes and updates to user documentation.
• Participate in scheduled team meetings, ad hoc meetings, and ongoing communication with the client project lead to coordinate task priorities.

Qualifications



Required :

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in a Computer Science field.
• 10+ years of applied programming experience.
• Demonstrated proficiency in C++, supported by examples of completed C++ projects.

Preferred :

• Coursework in ecology, fisheries, oceanography, natural resources, or a related field.
• Experience working with complex ecological models that inform management decisions.
• Familiarity with Git-based version control, Qt development environment, and Boost libraries.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement
Prestige Development Group (PDG) is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. PDG prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind, including based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement
PDG is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in our job application and hiring process.

Background Check Policy
Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. PDG complies with all applicable laws regarding background checks.

How to Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their resume. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.