Senior C++ Network Engineer

Company Overview

Metrea delivers effects-as-a-service to national security partners across five domains and more than a dozen mission areas. These include airborne ISR, electronic warfare, secure communications, aerial refueling, special air missions, aerial firefighting, and advanced simulation. We own the whole stack: designing, building, and operating turnkey capabilities that give our partners decisive, asymmetric advantage against rapidly evolving threats.

Our operating model is built around three interlocking pillars. The Support Groups provide a global shared-service – spanning people, finance, platform, operations, legal, and engagement. This frees up our Core Groups, who develop and own mission capabilities end-to-end, to focus entirely on delivery. The Market Groups apply a regional lens, ensuring that our agile and adaptable capabilities remain aligned to the wicked problems that matter most to our partners across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.

At the heart of our model is a simple but powerful idea: be a true partner with skin in the game. Our partners need effects, not just equipment. By owning the full stack – from the lab to the field – we are able to drive a continuous cycle of innovation that keeps our partners ahead. It's a fast-moving, intellectually demanding environment where talented people are given real responsibility, work on problems that matter, and contribute to an enterprise that is growing quickly and deliberately.

Headquartered in Washington, DC, with facilities across the United States, the United Kingdom, as well as Continental Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Group Overview

This role sits within the Digital and Synthetic area of Metrea. The Digital and Synthetic Capability Unit (D&S) is committed to providing mission-driven information solutions that seamlessly bridge the digital and physical realms. Leveraging cutting-edge technologies and advanced platforms, we empower operational readiness and elevate situational awareness across diverse domains—including air, maritime, and space.

Position Summary

Metrea is looking for a Senior C++ network engineer to join our team and help build our core simulation platform. In this role, you will develop systems that simulate military aircraft and large-scale exercises. You will work closely with our experts in aerospace and simulation to develop an immersive world with realistic agent behavior and real-time, responsive interactions. If you are looking forward to solving hard technical problems and can delve deep into the underlying codebase while keeping stability and performance in mind, we will be a good match for you. This role will require you to be a team player who enjoys working in a multidisciplinary environment and expects you to be communicative and independent. You should be motivated to find creative and scalable solutions for complex problems.

What You'll Do

You will design and develop systems for all simulation endpoints, tools, and hardware to share a common, immersive world

You will work closely with our experts in aerospace and simulation to ensure realistic agent behavior, working integrations, and real-time, responsive interactions

You will find creative and scalable solutions for complex problems

You will be responsible for reviewing designs and code from colleagues

You will work in an independent and communicative way within a multidisciplinary environment

What You'll Bring

Proven experience in C++ software development

Experience designing and implementing distributed systems

Experience developing networked real-time applications, simulations, or games

Proven experience with distributed simulation standards such as HLA or DIS

Experience integrating systems through APIs, messaging systems, or middleware

Curiosity for complex interoperability challenges

A pragmatic mindset, strong problem-solving, and the ability to troubleshoot issues spanning multiple systems

Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate in a distributed setup across technical and organizational boundaries

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

Background in any related field (e.g., Military, Aerospace, Software, Engineering, Physics, Math)

Experience working in large-scale synthetic environments or constructive simulations

Engineering degree

5+ years of professional C++ programming

Benefits

Comprehensive medical plan options

HSA/FSA accounts

Dental and vision coverage

6% employer 401(k) match

Fully paid parental leave for all new parents

Generous PTO

Life and disability insurance

Long-term and Short-term disability coverage

AD&D Coverage

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Subsided gym membership / plans through Wellhub

Work Authorization / Security Clearance

The employee must be a US citizen.

This position requires eligibility to obtain a Secret clearance. Candidates will be subject to a background investigation in accordance with federal requirements.

AAP/EEO Statement

This Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time exempt position with typical working hours of Monday through Friday, 8 :00 a.m. to 5 :00 p.m. Hours and work shifts may change in accordance with department and business needs.

Work Environment

Washington D.C. or Tampa, FL. This position is available on a hybrid working basis.

Travel

This role may require occasional travel to other Metrea offices.

Base Pay Range

The compensation range shown below is a good faith estimate and reflects the expected base pay for this position upon hire. This is just one component of Metrea's overall approach to total rewards and final compensation decisions, including the ultimate salary or hourly rate agreed upon, may vary depending on factors such as job location, job-specific knowledge, skills, experience, and the overall negotiated compensation package. Eligible full-time employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their health, wellbeing, and long-term success.

Pay Range

$140,000 — $200,000 USD

Our Firmware

At Metrea, our single core value is Rooted in Humility, and our four cornerstone attributes are Entrepreneurial, Systematic, Discerning, and Over-Deliver. These form what we call our Teammate Firmware. Just like technical firmware connects software and hardware, our Firmware is the constant interface between our mission and our people. It defines how we show up, how we work together, and how we solve complex problems.

Our team Firmware creates a web-like, hyper-collaborative, dynamically hierarchical way of working that helps us adapt quickly, communicate openly, and distribute decision-making to where expertise actually lives. It enables groups to self-organize around hard problems, shift fluidly as priorities evolve, and operate with the trust, curiosity, and discipline required in a complex mission space. This foundation allows us to deliver elegant, effective solutions and uphold our purpose: protecting our precious inheritance.