Principal Software Engineer

AV; Simi Valley (CA); On-site; USD 147,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Holiday shutdown

Job summary

AV is seeking a Principal Software Engineer in California to lead software for autonomous robotic platforms and the Kinesis ecosystem. You will own architecture, drive cross-team decisions, and hands-on build for hardware-integrated systems. Expect collaboration with industry partners and ongoing product improvement.

The role emphasizes ownership, fast delivery, and mentoring while working with hardware and AI tooling to improve code quality and productivity. Occasional travel is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with 12+ years of experience.
• Strong modern C++ fluency and modular system design.
• Experience translating design tradeoffs into clear system requirements.
• Hands-on with CMake build systems; software for hardware-integrated systems.
• Knowledge of networks, safety-critical software, and real-time concepts.
• Ability to engage with customers and lead teams.
• Willingness to travel locally; DoD clearance potential.

Responsibilities

• Develop software for AV's vision-based navigation and autonomy roadmap.
• Drive technical direction across the Kinesis ecosystem.
• Design and implement C++/Kotlin cross-platform systems.
• Develop Android, Linux, and Windows apps to control robots.
• Design SDK interfaces for internal and external integrations.
• Serve as technical lead for customer programs and field tests.
• Deliver features on time per project plans and budgets.
• Mentor engineers and guide team activities.
• Collaborate with multiple software teams to reuse components.
• Participate in hands-on testing and field validation of features.

Skills

Modern C++

Software architecture

Modular design

Customer engagement

Mentoring

AI tooling for productivity

Leadership

Hands-on hardware

Field testing

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Math, or Physics

Tools

CMake

Docker

Gitlab

gRPC

MQTT

FastDDS

Job description

Worker Type

Regular

Summary

As a Principal Software Engineer at AV, you'll develop software to control advanced robotic platforms from AV and industry leaders including Boston Dynamics, Red Cat, FLIR, Skydio, QinetiQ, Parrot, and more. You'll play a key role in developing Kinesis, our flagship software ecosystem that enables users to collaboratively control a diverse set of robots. This role is ideal for engineers who take ownership, enjoy working hands-on with hardware, and bring structure and clarity to complex systems. You'll be trusted to move quickly, make sound decisions, and continuously improve our product and execution.

Position Responsibilities

• Software development in support of AV’s vision-based navigation, autonomy, cooperative behaviors, and mission systems technology roadmap.
• Drive technical direction and architectural decisions across the Kinesis ecosystem.
• Design, implement, and integrate systems in C++ and Kotlin.
• Develop cross-platform applications for Android, Linux, and Windows to control robotic platforms.
• Design SDK interfaces for internal and external integration with AV systems.
• Serve as a technical lead for customer programs.
• Perform hands-on field testing with robots to validate new features.
• Delivers work on time according to agreed completion dates and project schedule & budget.
• Supports and derives algorithm design from detailed software requirements.
• Works closely with multiple teams of software developers reusing developed software to support different programs.
• Operates in a continuous learning environment and provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
• Works on significant and unique issues where analysis of situations or data requires an evaluation of intangibles.
• Acts independently to determine methods and procedures on new or special assignments.
• Occasional travel for customer or testing events.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Math, or Physics is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience with 12+ years of relevant experience.
• Strong fluency in modern C++, maintainable software architecture, and modular system design
• Experience evaluating product design tradeoffs and translating them into clear system requirements
• Hands-on knowledge of CMake or similar build systems
• Experience developing software for mechatronic or hardware-integrated systems
• Knowledge of computer networking topologies, protocols, and principles
• Familiarity with safety critical software concepts such as determinism and real-time systems
• Self-directed engineer who takes ownership and brings structure to complex systems
• Ability to engage directly with technical and non-technical customers
• Ability to leverage AI tooling to improve engineering productivity and code quality
• Experience tasking and mentoring small engineering teams
• Ability to obtain a US DoD Secret clearance if required
• Willingness to travel locally (Occasionally)

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Advanced degree is preferred
• Experience with UAS, drones, robotics, autonomous vehicles, or other embedded systems
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines (Gitlab or similar)
• Android/Linux application development experience
• Experience with Docker
• Experience with FastDDS, gRPC, MQTT, or similar networking protocols
• Experience designing and delivering APIs and SDKs to third-party developers
• Demonstrates leadership skills and sound judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions
• Demonstrates effective listening, questioning, clarifying and summarizing skills to effectively communicate in one-on-one and small group settings
• Demonstrates understanding of system design that one is working on and understands the role that assigned tasks play in the system
• Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties
• Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives
• Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products
• Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company
• Has effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills
• Focuses on teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above one's own interests

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office 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

$147,000 - $224,250

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. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

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. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency.