Lead Flight Management Software Engineer – I/O, Diagnostics, and Redundancy

IF1139 GE Aviation Systems LLC; Grand Rapids (MI); Hybrid; USD 112,000 - 149,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

401(k) with company matching

Relocation assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

GE Aerospace in Grand Rapids, MI is seeking a Lead Embedded Software Engineer for the Flight Management System team. The role focuses on safety-critical, real-time embedded software, including BootROM, dual-redundancy, and cross-loading capabilities, with DO-178 experience and Ada/C proficiency.

You will work across requirements, design, implementation, verification, and issue resolution, collaborating with systems, hardware, and certification teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• 6+ years of embedded software development or avionics software design.
• Strong experience with Ada and/or C for real-time embedded systems.
• Experience in DO-178 or similarly regulated software development environment.

Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and maintain real-time embedded software for avionics computer systems.
• Design and implement low-level middleware and platform functions such as I/O interfaces and startup software.
• Read, analyze, and maintain Ada and C software for safety-critical systems.
• Derive and maintain software requirements, low-level design, and interface documentation.
• Support and perform software verification activities including testing and debugging.
• Collaborate with systems, hardware, integration, certification, and program teams.

Skills

Ada

C

RTOS

DO-178

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering or related field

Tools

ARINC 429

ARINC 653

MIL-STD-1553

Job description

Job Description Summary

We are seeking a Lead Embedded Software Engineer to join our Flight Management System (FMS) team. In this role, you will develop and verify safety-critical, real-time embedded software supporting both legacy and next-generation avionics programs. Your work will focus on low-level middleware and platform software, including input/output interfaces, diagnostics and maintenance functions, BootROM, dual-redundancy management, and cross-loading capabilities. The ideal candidate brings strong experience in DO-178 software development, hands-on proficiency in Ada and C, and familiarity with avionics communication and partitioning standards such as ARINC 429, ARINC 653, and MIL-STD-1553. This role requires a technically strong engineer who can work across the software lifecycle, from requirements and design through implementation, verification, and issue resolution. The location for this position is Grand Rapids, MI on at least a hybrid basis (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday in office). An extensive corporate relocation package is also available for eligible candidates.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and maintain real-time embedded software for avionics computer systems supporting Flight Management System applications.
• Design and implement low-level middleware and platform functions, including digital and analog I/O interfaces, system diagnostics and maintenance, BootROM and startup software, dual-redundancy management, cross-load / data loading mechanisms.
• Read, analyze, develop, and maintain Ada and C software for safety-critical embedded systems.
• Derive, review, and maintain software requirements, low-level design, and interface documentation in compliance with program and certification needs.
• Support and perform software verification activities, including test development, debugging, integration, and issue resolution.
• Collaborate with systems, hardware, integration, certification, and program teams to ensure technical execution and compliance objectives are met.
• Communicate program status, technical risks, and mitigation plans clearly and proactively to engineering and program leadership.
• Plan and execute assigned work to meet Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and compliance objectives.
• Contribute to technical problem solving across multiple programs, including both new product development and legacy product sustainment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 6+ years of professional experience in embedded software development or avionics software design.
• Strong experience developing software in Ada and/or C for real-time embedded systems.
• Experience working in a DO-178 or similarly regulated software development environment.
• Experience with the full embedded software lifecycle, including requirements, design, coding, integration, verification, and debug.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
• This position requires U.S. citizenship status.

Desired Characteristics

• Experience with flight management systems, avionics computers, or other safety-critical aerospace platforms is preferred.
• Familiarity with avionics and industrial communication interfaces, including ARINC 429, ARINC 653, ARINC 664, ARINC 825, MIL-STD-1553, Ethernet, CAN, RS-232/422/485, and analog and discrete I/O, is also desired.
• Experience developing software for diagnostics, maintenance functions, startup/boot software, or redundancy management.
• Demonstrated ability to decompose complex technical problems and drive them to closure.
• Strong technical writing skills, including requirements, design documentation, and verification artifacts.
• Experience in aerospace or another highly regulated industry.
• Familiarity with hardware/software integration and debugging in embedded environments.
• Prior experience leading technical efforts, coordinating work, or mentoring other engineers.

Compensation

The base pay range for this position is $112,000.00 - $149,000.00 USD Annually. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, education, and skill set. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus based on a percentage of your base salary/ commission based on the plan.

Benefits

• Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach from GE Aerospace; and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services.
• Retirement benefits include the GE Aerospace Retirement Savings Plan, a 401(k) savings plan with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants.
• Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and paid time-off for vacation or illness.
• Relocation Assistance Provided: Yes

Compliance & Security

This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

Eligibility

The role requires U.S. citizenship status. GE Aerospace will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable). Employees may also be subject to random and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing.

Diversity & Inclusion

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

Application Deadline

This posting is expected to close on 10/31/26.

Company Culture

GE Aerospace offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Aerospace is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components, and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. At GE Aerospace, respect for people is core to our culture and commitment to FLIGHT DECK, our proprietary lean operating model. We attract, develop, and retain industry-leading talent from all backgrounds and cultivate communities where people are respected and empowered to reach their fullest potential. For the people of GE Aerospace, their work isn't just a job. It's their passion and purpose. We work and win as one team, accountable to each other and our customers, and we are always finding a better way to climb higher together. We were meant to fly.