---
title: 'Principal Software Engineer at ClearEdge'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-software-engineer-clearedge-annapolis-junction-hc1ftf4ymmsx'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Principal Software Engineer at ClearEdge

- **Company:** ClearEdge
- **Location:** Annapolis Junction, MD
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-03-02
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/clearedge/f23922de-be7d-41a3-9af0-6733b3b3f6a3

## Job description

Join ClearEdge and be part of a mission-focused team solving some of the DoD’s most complex technical challenges. Every day, ClearEdge supports government and industry customers by delivering innovative solutions that enable critical operations and mission success.

ClearEdge offers an extremely competitive benefits package—including a $10k annual training and education benefit, a 10% 401(k) contribution fully vested on day one, annual health and technology allowances, and access to a state-of-the-art technology lab. Learn more at www.clearedgeit.com/careers/

Your Mission:

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will serve on a five-person Agile Software Team delivering feature enhancements to a metrics and monitoring system, including a centralized health and status dashboard. You will collaborate closely with System Engineers and Software Developers to implement scalable, secure, and high-performing solutions that coordinate status across multiple data sources and generate alerting based on events, metrics, and reports.

You will support and enhance a virtual compute and containerized application stack, ensuring DevOps best practices are integrated throughout the system lifecycle. This role includes developing lightweight application variants for limited-resource environments, producing shareable versions for U.S. partners, containerizing mission applications, and ensuring performance requirements are met across both low and high side environments.

You Will Excel in This Role If You Are:

- Experienced working on Agile software development teams
- Proficient in React for front-end dashboard development
- Skilled in GoLang for backend service development
- Experienced with Kubernetes and Docker for containerized deployments
- Familiar with OpenTelemetry for observability and telemetry integration
- Comfortable working with Git source control
- Capable of designing RESTful APIs and defining message schemas for data transport
- Experienced integrating DevOps policies and CI/CD practices across the application stack
- Skilled in analyzing performance metrics and conducting system assessments
- Comfortable collaborating across engineering disciplines to deliver mission capabilities
- Able to scale, document, secure, and optimize containerized applications
- Interested in building lightweight, experimental solutions to evaluate emerging technologies

A Day in the Life:

- Deliver feature updates to a mission metrics and monitoring dashboard
- Develop React front-end components and GoLang backend services for metrics aggregation and alerting
- Implement OpenTelemetry for observability and distributed tracing
- Containerize and deploy applications using Docker and Kubernetes
- Create lightweight application variants for limited-resource environments
- Design RESTful APIs and message schemas for data exchange
- Perform performance assessments and integrate DevOps/security best practices
- Collaborate with System Engineers to derive requirements and support low/high-side deployments

What We Are Expecting From You:

- TS/SCI with polygraph clearance
- Twenty (20) years of SWE experience in programs of similar scope, type, and complexity
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (or related field) or four (4) additional years of relevant experience in lieu of degree
- Proficiency in React
- Experience with GoLang, OpenTelemetry, Kubernetes, and Docker
- Familiarity with Git source control
- Experience analyzing requirements, designing, developing, integrating, and modifying software systems
- Experience developing database interfaces and executing software test procedures
- Ability to optimize performance, implement complex algorithms, and meet system constraints
- Ability to collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams and improve development processes
- Ability to serve as a team lead within the applicable software development process

Nice to Have:

- Experience with Grafana
- Additional experience with OpenTelemetry implementations
- Familiarity with Linux environments and Bash scripting
- Experience working in both low-side and high-side environments

ClearEdge is an established small business that values its employees and is committed to providing an environment where individuals can succeed and grow. We believe in developing our people, promoting from within, and fostering long-term career growth across the organization.

Our Core Values—Honesty, Integrity, Loyalty, Fairness, Respect, Responsibility, and Accountability—guide everything we do. These principles shape our culture, inform our decisions, and drive our commitment to excellence in support of our customers and partners.

If this position is not the right fit, we encourage you to visit our Careers page to explore other opportunities at ClearEdge or connect with one of our recruiters at careers@clearedgeit.com. ClearEdge is an equal opportunity employer.

## About ClearEdge

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: A mission-driven technology thought leader providing software engineering, big data, cloud, data analytics, and data science solutions primarily to the Intelligence Community and government clients.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Woman-Owned Small Business)
- **Headquarters**: Jessup, Maryland, United States (with an office in Annapolis Junction)
- **Founded**: August 23, 2002
- **Founders**: Not publicly disclosed; Christine Puglisi is listed as Owner

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Information Technology & Services; National Security / Intelligence; Government Contracting
- **Target customers**: U.S. government agencies (especially the Intelligence Community), defense contractors, and industry partners (B2G)
- **Mission statement**: "Empower customers in government and industry with innovative data driven solutions."

## Products & Services
ClearEdge delivers technical solutions and services across several domains:
- **[Software Engineering](https://www.clearedgeit.com/)**: Full-stack development using Java, JavaEE, RESTful web services, and agile/DevOps practices.
- **[Big Data & Cloud](https://www.clearedgeit.com/)**: Solutions built on Hadoop, Map Reduce, Accumulo, NiFi, and cloud platforms.
- **[Data Analytics & Data Science](https://www.clearedgeit.com/)**: Machine learning, data flow engineering, and analytic visualization.
- **[High Performance Computing & Cyber](https://www.clearedgeit.com/)**: HPC support and cybersecurity engineering.
- **[DevOps Support](https://www.clearedgeit.com/)**: CI/CD pipeline implementation and operational support.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not disclosed (privately held)
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue estimated at **$45.2M**; total funding not applicable (bootstrapped/private)
- **Headcount**: Reports vary – **53 employees** ([LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/company/clearedge-it-solutions-llc)) or **75 US employees** ([Top Workplaces](https://topworkplaces.com/company/clearedge-it-solutions/)) – yearly growth of **+14.1%**
- **Notable Partners/Clients**: Primarily serves U.S. Intelligence Community and government agencies; has held federal contracts since 2002 (CAGE 3CF84, UEI HJTXHCM6N4B3)
- **Growth Signals**: 33 active job postings as of late 2025; quarterly job postings up 6.5% year-over-year; LinkedIn followers up 18.6% annually

## Competitive Advantages
- **Cleared Workforce**: Many positions require a DoD security clearance, creating a barrier to entry for competitors.
- **Employee-First Culture**: 100% employer-paid health/dental/vision, 10% 401k contribution, $10k annual education benefit, and a $500/year personal tech budget.
- **Small Business Agility**: As a privately held woman-owned small business, ClearEdge can adapt quickly and offer employees direct impact on mission-critical projects.
- **Deep IC Domain Expertise**: Over two decades of experience supporting intelligence community customers with specialized technical talent.

## Strategic Focus
- Continue attracting and retaining top-tier engineers with the required clearances.
- Invest in continuous learning and certifications (up to $10k/year per employee).
- Expand capabilities in data science, machine learning, and cloud engineering to meet evolving government needs.
- Maintain a strong culture of work-life balance and community involvement (family events, STEM days, etc.).

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Values**: Honesty, integrity, loyalty, fairness, respect, responsibility, and accountability are core tenets. An employee-first leadership style with a "family" atmosphere.
- **Remote/Hybrid/Office**: Roles are primarily located in the Baltimore/Washington Metro area; many require on-site work due to security clearance needs. Some flexibility may exist.
- **Perks & Benefits** (from [ClearEdge Careers](https://www.clearedgeit.com/careers/)):
  - 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance (Cigna)
  - 100% employer-paid short/long-term disability and life insurance
  - 10% 401k contribution (3% safe harbor + 7% discretionary, immediate vesting)
  - Up to 25 days PTO + all federal holidays
  - $10,000 annual education reimbursement (courses, certifications, conferences)
  - $500/year personal tech budget
  - Student loan assistance through Gradifi
  - Career service bonuses ($3k at 3 years, $5k at 5, $10k at 10, $15k at 15)
  - Fun office amenities (pool table, shuffleboard, outdoor grill patio)
- **Engineering Culture**: Emphasis on continuous learning, in-house training (Agile, Hadoop, Spark, ML), bi-monthly technical deep dives, and exposure to diverse mission contracts.

## Sources
1. [ClearEdge Careers Page](https://www.clearedgeit.com/careers/)
2. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://linkedin.com/company/clearedge-it-solutions-llc)
3. [Top Workplaces Profile](https://topworkplaces.com/company/clearedge-it-solutions/)
4. [HigherGov Federal Awardee Record](https://www.highergov.com/awardee/clearedge-it-solutions-llc-12810676/)
5. [ClearEdge Careers 2 – Benefits Summary](https://www.clearedgeit.com/careers/careers-2/)

## Other roles at ClearEdge

- [Software Engineer I](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-i-clearedge-annapolis-junction-65sd6pfnn3zr) — Annapolis Junction, MD
- [Information System Security Engineer III](https://feeny.ai/job/information-system-security-engineer-iii-clearedge-jessup-setavhbdmnms) — Jessup, MD
- [Software Engineer II](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-ii-clearedge-jessup-w0hebaqgmah4) — Jessup, MD
- [DevOps Engineer II](https://feeny.ai/job/devops-engineer-ii-clearedge-jessup-w4dpyhfh9k64) — Jessup, MD
- [Senior Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-clearedge-annapolis-junction-md-and-reston-kh06f7qcn3tj) — Annapolis Junction MD and Reston, VA
- [Property Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/property-manager-clearedge-centreville-xzdc261tq4py) — Centreville, MD
- [Secure Building Engineer (Electrical)](https://feeny.ai/job/secure-building-engineer-electrical-clearedge-jessup-2b3nzh2x13ry) — Jessup, MD
- [Senior Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-clearedge-annapolis-junction-kmqcbmvs6stp) — Annapolis Junction, MD
- [Information Systems Security Officer](https://feeny.ai/job/information-systems-security-officer-clearedge-jessup-p0tds05bfn2j) — Jessup, MD
- [Senior DevOps Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-devops-software-engineer-clearedge-jessup-zd8p8xgq3g9s) — Jessup, MD