Software Engineer III (TAK / ATAK)

Rise8 builds custom, secure software for government organizations, measuring success by impact: lives saved, time returned, and missions advanced. 

We think big, start small, and scale fast with elite teams across product, design, and engineering to drive continuous delivery for critical missions.

We believe customer experience starts with employee experience, so we take care of our employees. Rise8 is where you’ll do the best work of your career—supported by a culture you won’t find anywhere else. We offer competitive pay and benefits, but what sets us apart is our commitment to autonomy, growth, and a culture rooted in kindness, candor, and continuous learning. 

Certified as a Great Place to Work®, with 100% of employees saying they love working here, Rise8 is where bold ideas become real capabilities. Where mission meets meaning. And where fewer bad things happen because of bad software.

• You want to make tomorrow better than today 
• You have a passion for high-speed security and you care about risk management over compliance
• You believe the biggest vulnerability in any system is time. You live to securely reduce cycle time
• You enjoy daily decision making and real product delivery
• You help ensure project success and client satisfaction
• You enjoy collaborative teams, pairing with team members, and inviting your clients to participate 
• You like to work alongside, and learn from, lean and agile leaders
• You are a creative problem solver who is comfortable with uncertainty
• You’re a curious and keen learner who thrives on enhancing your (and our) practices and knowledge
• You see AI as a force multiplier, not a shortcut — and you're already weaving it into how you think, build, and ship

• Build and maintain software for the Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) ecosystem — including ATAK (Android), WinTAK (Windows), TAKX (Cross-platform) and/or WebTAK OASIS 
• Design, implement, and test TAK plugins, tools, and features that deliver real-time situational awareness to military and first responder users
• Work with TAK protocols like Cursor on Target (CoT) and geospatial formats like GeoPackage
• Pair directly with military personnel, product owners, and engineers to understand operational needs and deliver mission-critical capabilities
• Deliver functionality iteratively and validate with real-world users in real-time or training environments
• Collaborate with TAK community stakeholders and government customers to ensure plugin and server compatibility 
• Contribute to secure, hardened, and field-ready software that performs in disconnected, intermittent, and low-bandwidth (DIL) environments
• Operate with an agile mindset: frequent releases, test-driven development (TDD), CI/CD, and continuous feedback
• Work with a balanced team of designers, product managers, and engineers to ensure your solutions meet mission objectives and end-user needs
• Champion AI-augmented ways of working across your engagement(s), leveraging AI tooling to accelerate delivery, reduce cycle time, and drive better outcomes at scale

• 3–6 years of professional software engineering experience
• Experience with the TAK ecosystem (ATAK/WinTAK/CIVTAK/TAK Server), especially developing TAK plugins or extensions
• Proficient in Java, Kotlin, or C++, especially in the context of Android or Windows development
• Strong understanding of geospatial concepts, data formats (CoT, GeoPackage), and GIS toolkits
• Experience with Test Driven Development (TDD) and agile methodologies
• Strong communication skills and comfort in a pair-programming environment
• Comfortable in Linux environments and with container tools like Docker or Kubernetes
• Familiar with DevSecOps practices and tools such as Git, GitLab CI, SonarQube, Fortify, etc
• Strong understanding of algorithms, design patterns, APIs, and software architecture
• BA/BS in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience
• Ability to obtain a security clearance for US Government work

• Previous experience building tools for or with the Department of Defense (DoD)
• Experience working with or inside a DoD Software Factory or on fielded tactical systems
• Familiarity with mesh networking, radio integration, or disconnected ops environments
• Experience developing cloud-native or edge-native applications
• Background in cybersecurity, secure coding, or cross-domain solutions (CDS)
• Familiarity with operational workflows of military, law enforcement, or emergency response teams

Position may require up to 25% travel in support of contract performance, customer site visits, and program activities

The annual salary range for this role as it is posted is $119,853 to $149,817 regardless of final candidate location within the United States. The final job level and annual salary will be determined based on the education, qualification, knowledge, skills, ability, and experience of the final candidate(s), and calibrated against relevant market data and internal team equity.