Middleware Software Engineer

Middleware Software Engineer

Actalent is hiring a Software Engineer for a large A&D company located around Manassas, VA. Position offer full time benefits (medical, dental, vision, etc.) plus Paid Vacation and Paid Holidays. Preference on having an active secret clearance or previously held clearance, but a clearance can be processed. Company has flexible work hours, 4/10s (off every Friday) or 9/80 (off every other Friday).

Quick Overview of requirements:

• Understanding the architecture layer messaging
• gRPC (or similar)
• DDS (or similar)
• Development experience in in C++ or Java

Job Description

We are seeking a skilled Middleware Software Engineer to join our team supporting mission-critical systems for Navy and DoD programs. This role focuses on designing and integrating high-performance software components in distributed environments using Java and C/C++ on Linux platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and integrate software components using Java and C/C++ in a Linux OS environment
• Implement and optimize Linux/Unix socket programming for high-performance communications
• Develop and integrate middleware technologies such as gRPC, Google Protocol Buffers, DDS, Kafka
• Architect and implement publish-subscribe communication patterns for distributed systems
• Collaborate on computer networking tasks including protocol design, diagnostics, and performance tuning
• Apply common design patterns in Java and C++ to ensure scalable and maintainable code
• Utilize containerization technologies (e.g., Docker) and build infrastructure tools such as Gradle and CMake
• Participate in research, whitepapers, system rearchitecture planning, design reviews, and technical deep-dives with government and program stakeholders

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor in Computer Science or related degree
• 5+ years of experience in software development with C++ or Java and Python
• Experience working in Linux environments and socket programming
• Experience with gRPC, Google Protocol Buffers, DDS, or Kafka middleware frameworks
• Eligible for Secret Clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with publish-subscribe architectures and distributed systems
• Understanding of computer networking principles
• Experience with containerization and modern build systems (Gradle, CMake)
• Prior experience supporting Navy or DoD programs
• Experience with legacy system modernization and system-of-systems integration
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevSecOps practices

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Manassas, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $90.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Manassas,VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 10, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.