Software Engineer - Cloud-based Software

AeroVironment, Inc.; Alabama; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

AV is seeking a highly skilled Software Engineer to join our team in advancing the Missile Defense System software. You will support the Next Generation Software Office, accelerating development, integration, and delivery of secure software.

The role includes designing and implementing on-demand and cloud-based software for system-of-systems development, testing, and deployment, with potential leadership of teams and strong emphasis on engineering rigor.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in STEM or related field.
• 12+ years of missile defense/DoD program experience.
• Active Secret clearance or higher.
• Design, development and management of software libraries and cloud-based software architectures.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop and cloud-based testing for software delivery.
• API and ICD review/management for cloud-based and HWIL environments.
• Experience in AI development and tooling; operations.
• Ability to work independently or lead teams and apply engineering rigor.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to the Missile Defense Agency Next Generation Software Office to accelerate software development, integration, and delivery.
• Develop on-demand and cloud-based software for system-of-systems development, integration, and testing.
• Lead or participate in teams to implement secure, resilient software architectures and containerized solutions.

Skills

Team leadership

Independent work

Software architecture

Cloud-based software development

APIs/ICD

AI development

HWIL testing

Security clearance

Top secret clearance

Education

Master's Degree in STEM

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS/Azure

Terraform/Ansible

Git

Job description

Arsenal Alabama

8869

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Job Overview:

AV is looking for a highly talented Software Engineer to join our team! In this role you will provide support to the Missile Defense Agency Next Generation Software Office to accelerate and modernize the development, integration, and delivery of resilient and secure Missile Defense System software.

This position will provide technical and engineering analysis to support development of on-demand and cloud-based software for system of systems development, integration, and testing.

Required Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) field.

• 12+ years working on missile defense-related or other complex, large DoD program/project.

• Active Secret clearance.

• Design, development, and management of software libraries and Cloud-based software architectures and requirements.

• Experience in hardware in the loop and cloud-based testing to support software development and delivery.

• Experience in management and review of application programming interfaces (API) and interface control documents (ICD) and enabling software utilized in Cloud-based and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) environments.

• Experience in artificial intelligence development and tooling and agentic operations.

• Ability to work independently, as a team member, or leading teams/tasks, applying engineering rigor to solve engineering/scientific problems.

Desired Qualifications

• Cloud and Containerization: Practical experience with software containerization concepts (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, Azure) and migrating legacy enterprise applications to cloud-native architectures.

• Agile and DevSecOps: Strong working knowledge of Agile and Lean software development principles, particularly within a secure Department of War (DoW) DevSecOps framework.

• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Knowledge of or direct experience deploying IaC tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible) to establish reproducible, auditable, and secure cloud environments.

• Experience using modern configuration management and version control platforms (e.g., Git) to enforce policy-as-code, baseline management, and compliance configurations.

• Top secret clearance or the ability to qualify for one.

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 (https://www.avinc.com/careers/our-team)