Software Development Engineer

AeroVironment, Inc.; Herndon (VA); Hybrid; USD 3,500 - 520,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401K with company matching

9/80 work schedule

Paid holiday shutdown

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. in Chantilly, VA is seeking a Software Development Engineer to design, build and evolve mission-critical applications using solid engineering and Agile practices. This role emphasizes real impact over busywork and offers two remote days per week for balanced collaboration.

You'll join a high-performing team, work with Kubernetes and AWS, and contribute where code meets real-world use. Requirements: TS/SCI with poly, 4+ years, CS-related degree, and cloud/CI/CD experience.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI with polygraph clearance required.
• 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Bachelor's in CS or related discipline; advanced degrees may substitute experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and evolve applications using solid engineering and Agile practices.
• Collaborate in a high-performing team and implement solutions in Kubernetes/AWS environments.
• Code and test high-quality software in an agile setting, enabling real-world impact.

Skills

Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph

Agile methodologies

AWS cloud experience

Autonomous problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related discipline

Master's degree

Ph.D.

Tools

Kubernetes

Terraform

Ansible

React

TypeScript

NestJS

GoLang

Selenium

FluxCD

Job description

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary

The Software Development Engineer role is for someone who wants to do more than just push code and sit through meetings that could’ve been emails. (well, we have some meetings, but they are important-ish) You’ll join a high-performing, genuinely smart (and refreshingly normal) team in Chantilly, VA, working on mission-critical systems that actually matter. This isn’t “update a button color and call it innovation” work. This is complex, meaningful engineering where what you build gets used in the real world. We’re talking: Real problems, not busywork. Real impact, not vanity metrics. Real collaboration, not “you’re on mute” energy. And yes, one of the perks people actually care about: you can work from home two days a week. Enough flexibility to breathe, while still getting the in-person collaboration that makes good teams great. The position is based in Chantilly with work at the Sponsor facility a minimum of three (3) days per week and two (2) days remotely. Come build something that matters, with people who don’t make you question your life choices every Monday morning.

Position Responsibilities

You’ll be designing, building, and evolving applications using solid engineering principles and Agile methodologies that the team actually believes in. Yes, actual Agile. Not “we renamed meetings and called it transformation.” If you like: Smart teammates who challenge you (in a good way) Work that makes you better, not just busier Shipping things that do something You’ll feel right at home. You’ve spent some real time in the trenches with modern tools and don’t panic when someone says, “it’s in Kubernetes.”

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph Clearance
• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience
• A Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related discipline may be substituted for 4 years of experience.
• A Master's Degree may be substituted for 6 years of experience.
• A Ph.D. may be substituted for 7 years of experience.
• Experience developing/deploying solutions using AWS tools and services.
• Experience working in a small team practicing Agile Methodologies.
• Codes and tests high quality software in a responsive agile team environment driven by dynamically evolving software requirements.
• Uses sound software engineering principles and practices to ensure that developed code is modifiable, efficient, reliable, understandable, and fault tolerant.
• Follows software process management and control throughout the coding portion of the software development process.
• Supports documentation, design, and process improvement activities.
• Works with well-defined problems and analyzes, designs, and implements solutions autonomously
• Leads small tasks in coordination with other technical resources.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Experience with AWS Cloud and AWS Certifications
• Experience enhancing software to reduce operating time or improve efficiency
• Experience developing and maintaining applications while addressing accessibility concerns
• Experience with Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)

We’re looking for experience with at least a few of these (not all, we’re not building a unicorn… yet):

• Git
• Selenium
• Kubernetes
• Terraform
• Ansible
• React
• Tailwind
• TypeScript
• JavaScript
• NestJS
• Scala
• Akka
• FluxCD
• Playwright
• GoLang

Bonus points if:

• You know the difference between “it works on my machine” and “it works everywhere.”
• You’ve automated something that made you feel like a wizard for at least 3 minutes.
• You’ve willingly debugged something at 4:59 PM and lived to tell the story.

Salary Range: $83,500,00 - $208,750.00

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 will be asked to provide specific documentation to verify U.S. person status under the ITAR and the EAR. A “U.S. person” according to their 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.

Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we’ve been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world’s most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution’s permanent collection in Washington, DC. Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty – and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition. 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 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