Head of Backend Engineering – Functional Group

General Atomics Intelligence; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

GA-Intelligence in Charlottesville, VA seeks a Functional Group Manager to lead the Backend Software Engineering function. You will be the home room manager for 20–40 backend engineers, guiding career development, hiring, and workforce planning across Solutions and Products teams.

The role blends people leadership with technical community building, staffing strategy, mentoring, and driving engineering excellence in a matrix organization with DoD collaborations.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD in engineering or related technical field.
• 11+ years of progressively complex software engineering experience.
• 8+ years in people management or technical leadership.
• Strong background in Java, Python, Go, microservices, databases, APIs, cloud platforms.
• Experience in recruiting and interviewing technical talent.
• Ability to navigate a matrix organization and obtain DoD clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the administrative supervisor and home room manager for 20-40 software engineers.
• Aggregate performance feedback and execute reviews in GA HR systems.
• Establish and maintain career paths for software engineers.
• Make strategic staffing decisions across Solution and Product teams.
• Lead hiring for backend-leaning roles with GA Talent Acquisition.
• Coordinate professional development budgets and communities of practice.
• Organize onboarding and integration training for new hires.

Skills

Java

Python

Go

Microservices

Databases

APIs

Cloud platforms

Staffing decisions

Mentoring engineers

Engineering leadership

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD in engineering or related field

Job description

GA-Intelligence in Charlottesville, VA seeks a Functional Group Manager to lead the Backend Software Engineering function. You will be the home room manager for 20–40 backend engineers, guiding career development, hiring, and workforce planning across Solutions and Products teams.

The role blends people leadership with technical community building, staffing strategy, mentoring, and driving engineering excellence in a matrix organization with DoD collaborations.