Senior Software Engineer – Real-Time, Mission-Critical

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 106,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) in Poway, CA seeks a seasoned Software Developer to support flight and mission-critical capabilities deployed in complex operational environments.

You will coordinate software development across the lifecycle, plan releases across configurations, and ensure CM, release procedures, and quality standards are followed. The role requires leadership in architecture and integration strategies with Systems Engineering and program management, with DoD

Qualifications

• Six or more years with a bachelor’s degree; four+ years with a master’s; two+ with a PhD; substitute equivalents allowed.
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles including system architecture, modular design, integration, and lifecycle management.
• Experience leading and mentoring software engineers and coordinating technical work across a development team.
• Experience developing software for complex integrated systems (distributed/real-time/embedded).
• Ability to organize, schedule, and manage technical work across multiple concurrent efforts with competing priorities.
• Ability to evaluate technical approaches, make engineering decisions, and resolve complex system-level problems.
• Experience supporting software integration, verification, and test across lab, simulation, or operational environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation and engineering reviews.
• Capability to serve as a primary technical point of contact for assigned software scope.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a structured development environment.
• Experience delivering software under configuration management across multiple configurations (lab, fielded, etc.).
• Willingness to support program execution needs, including extended hours during milestones.
• Ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Determine user requirements and plan software development across the broader scope.
• Coordinate development activities across all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle.
• Support planning and execution of software releases across configurations.
• Ensure engineering work follows configuration management, release procedures, and quality standards.
• Provide technical oversight of software architecture and integration strategies.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities with systems engineering, test, and program management.
• Support software integration and troubleshooting in lab, simulation, and operations.
• Participate in design, code, and test-readiness reviews.
• Evaluate process improvements to enhance development efficiency and delivery reliability.
• Act as primary contact for external engineering teams, program management, and customers.
• Support program execution needs, including schedule-driven integrations or releases.

Skills

Software architecture

Team leadership

System integration

Communication

DoD clearance

Education

Bachelor's/Master's/PhD in CS/IS or related

Job description

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) in Poway, CA seeks a seasoned Software Developer to support flight and mission-critical capabilities deployed in complex operational environments.

You will coordinate software development across the lifecycle, plan releases across configurations, and ensure CM, release procedures, and quality standards are followed. The role requires leadership in architecture and integration strategies with Systems Engineering and program management, with DoD