Manager, Mission Systems Software

AeroVironment, Inc.; Northern, San Diego (KY, CA); Hybrid; USD 141,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. seeks a Manager, Mission Systems Software to lead a large, multi-site team delivering onboard mission systems software for uncrewed aircraft. You will drive software strategy, architecture, and delivery across vision-based navigation, autonomy, and flight software.

You will partner with the Software Chief Engineer, manage budgets and staffing, mentor engineers, and scale the team to meet rapid program growth in a fast-paced defense environment.

Qualifications

• BS degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years of software engineering experience in embedded, robotics, or mission systems software development.
• At least 4+ years in a management or technical lead role, successfully leading a software team of 15 or more engineers.
• Experience delivering flight-critical or mission-critical software through a full development lifecycle.
• Experienced with modern development and CI/CD tooling (e.g., Git/GitLab, CI pipelines, containerization) and Linux environments.

Responsibilities

• Manages a large, multi-site group of software engineers, including budget planning, staffing, training, performance evaluation and career development.
• Attracts and retains high caliber staff and provides mentorship
• Scales the team through rapid growth: drives hiring, onboarding, and the development of engineers into senior contributors and leads to keep pace with expanding program demand
• Partners with the Software Chief Engineer to shape the mission systems software roadmap and priorities, spanning vision-based navigation, autonomy, cooperative behaviors, and onboard flight software
• Plans, coordinates, and directs software development projects across multiple programs
• Works in an Agile environment to coordinate software development including scope, scheduling, resourcing, and block/release planning
• Champions software quality through design reviews, requirements-based testing, code coverage, and disciplined branching and release practices
• Guides the reuse of common software across programs to reduce sustainment burden and accelerate delivery
• Partners with systems engineering, GNC, hardware, test, and program teams to align software with system requirements and integration and flight-test milestones
• Frequently interacts with subordinate supervisors, customers and/or functional peer group managers, normally involving matters between functional areas
• Establishes and assures adherence to budgets, schedules and work plans.
• Interacts with senior management
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Embedded software

Robotics

Mission systems software

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering or related

Tools

Git/GitLab

CI pipelines

Containerization

Linux environments

Job description

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary

The Manager, Mission Systems Software, leads a large, multi-site team of software engineers building the onboard mission systems software for uncrewed aircraft, including vision-based navigation, autonomy, cooperative behaviors, and flight software. As a member of the Engineering management team, the Manager scales and develops the team through rapid growth, participates in defining and executing the software development strategy, budget, and program commitments, and partners with the Software Chief Engineer on technical direction.

Position Responsibilities

• Manages a large, multi-site group of software engineers, including budget planning, staffing, training, performance evaluation and career development.
• Attracts and retains high caliber staff and provides mentorship
• Scales the team through rapid growth: drives hiring, onboarding, and the development of engineers into senior contributors and leads to keep pace with expanding program demand
• Partners with the Software Chief Engineer to shape the mission systems software roadmap and priorities, spanning vision-based navigation, autonomy, cooperative behaviors, and onboard flight software
• Plans, coordinates, and directs software development projects across multiple programs
• Works in an Agile environment to coordinate software development including scope, scheduling, resourcing, and block/release planning
• Champions software quality through design reviews, requirements-based testing, code coverage, and disciplined branching and release practices
• Guides the reuse of common software across programs to reduce sustainment burden and accelerate delivery
• Partners with systems engineering, GNC, hardware, test, and program teams to align software with system requirements and integration and flight-test milestones
• Frequently interacts with subordinate supervisors, customers and/or functional peer group managers, normally involving matters between functional areas
• Establishes and assures adherence to budgets, schedules and work plans.
• Interacts with senior management
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• BS degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• 12+ years of software engineering experience, with a strong background in embedded, robotics, or mission systems software development
• At least 4+ years in a management or technical lead role, successfully leading a software team of 15 or more engineers
• Demonstrated success building and scaling a software team through a period of rapid growth
• Experience delivering flight-critical or mission-critical software through a full development lifecycle, from requirements through integration, test, and deployment
• Experienced with modern development and CI/CD tooling (e.g., Git/GitLab, CI pipelines, containerization) and Linux environments
• Demonstrated ability to work across software, systems, GNC, and program teams to deliver on program and customer milestones
• Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Advanced degree is desired
• Background delivering software for UAS, drones, robotics, autonomous systems, or other defense or aerospace platforms is a strong plus
• Familiarity with mission systems domains such as computer vision, machine learning, autonomy, or GNC is a plus
• Familiarity with real-time flight software and robotics/autonomy software frameworks is a plus
• Familiarity with open-systems and airworthiness standards (e.g., MOSA, FACE, DO-178) is a plus
• Experience leading a distributed or multi-site team in a defense technology or fast-paced product environment is a plus
• Prior experience or clearance eligibility to support work in a controlled or cleared environment is a plus
• Demonstrates competency in communicating technically and effectively across software, systems, GNC, and program groups and staff
• Skilled at identifying, communicating and mitigating technical risks and issues
• Embraces AI-assisted development tooling and encourages its adoption to improve team efficiency and quality
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
• Exercises independent judgment in methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change
• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships
• Assesses the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity

Physical Demands: Ability to work in an office and production environment (Constant) Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements: U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required. Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.

Clearance Level No Clearance

The salary range for this role is: $141,000 - $215,000 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement: This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

About AV: AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you’re ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR U.S. Citizenship required. Must be willing to work on government contracts and have the ability to obtain a security clearance.

About AV: AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

Careers at AeroVironment