Manager, Mission Systems Software

AeroVironment, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking a Manager, Mission Systems Software to lead a large, multi-site software engineering team developing onboard mission systems for uncrewed aircraft.

You will shape strategy, manage budgets and programs, and partner with the Software Chief Engineer on technical direction. The role emphasizes scaling teams during rapid growth, hiring and mentoring engineers, and delivering flight-critical software through an integrated lifecycle with modern CI/CD and Linux

Qualifications

• BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• 12+ years of software engineering experience, with embedded/robotics or mission systems background.
• At least 4+ years in a management or technical lead role leading 15+ engineers.
• Experience delivering flight-critical or mission-critical software through full lifecycle.
• Proficient with modern development and CI/CD tooling (Git/GitLab, CI pipelines, containerization) and Linux environments.
• Willingness to travel within the Continental U.S.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large, multi-site team of software engineers, including budget planning, staffing, training, performance evaluation and career development.
• Attract and retain high-caliber staff and provide mentorship.
• Scale the team through rapid growth, driving hiring and onboarding.
• Shape the mission systems software roadmap and priorities with the Software Chief Engineer.
• Plan and direct software development projects across multiple programs.
• Operate in an Agile environment coordinating scope, scheduling, resourcing, and releases.
• Champion software quality through design reviews, testing, code coverage, and disciplined branching.
• Promote reuse of software across programs to reduce sustainment burden.
• Collaborate with systems engineering, GNC, hardware, test, and program teams to align software with system milestones.
• Interact with senior management and cross-functional peers.
• Establish budgets, schedules and work plans and ensure adherence.

Skills

Leadership

Software leadership

Embedded systems

CI/CD tooling

GitLab

Linux environments

Agile

Staffing

Travel readiness

Education

BS in CS/CE/EE or related

Advanced degree (desirable)

Tools

GitLab

Docker

Containerization

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