Software Engineer - Lead Robotics Generalist

AeroVironment, Inc.; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 112,000 - 170,000; 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. is seeking a Software Engineer - Lead Robotics Generalist to design, develop, and test software for robotic systems, focusing on perception, control, autonomy, and system infrastructure.

This role works with multidisciplinary teams in an Agile environment to deliver robust robotic software for new products and enhancements, while mentoring less experienced engineers and contributing to design tradeoffs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and 8–12 years of Linux application software development experience.
• Object Oriented Design experience is required.
• Significant experience in C++ is required.
• Experience writing unit tests and debugging code.
• Experience with Git or similar source control systems.
• Works well in a small team.

Responsibilities

• Works within a defined software life cycle development process.
• Understands robotic system requirements and participates in design reviews.
• Creates software design documentation per process guidelines.
• Implements robotic software components with coding standards; writes unit tests.
• Contributes to process improvements for software development, testing, deployment.
• Delivers work on time per schedule and budget guidance.

Skills

C++

Unit tests

Git

OOP design

Linux development

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering/CS/EE/Math/Physics

Tools

DDS middleware

CI/CD

Job description

As a Software Engineer - Lead Robotics Generalist, you will work within a fast-moving, collaborative Agile development environment to design, develop, and test software for robotic systems.

This role focuses on building and integrating software across perception, control, autonomy, and system infrastructure to support reliable robotic behavior in real-world environments.

Engineers in this role work closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver robust, maintainable robotic software for new products and enhancements.

The salary range for this role is: $111,500 - $170,000

Position Responsibilities

• Works within a defined software life cycle development process.
• Understands robotic system requirements and participates in software and system design reviews.
• Creates software design documentation in accordance with software process requirements and guidance from Senior Engineers.
• Implements robotic software components according to coding standards; writes unit tests and validates software according to the defined process.
• Contributes to process improvement efforts related to robotic software development, testing, and deployment.
• Delivers work on time according to agreed completion dates and project schedule & budget.
• Supports and derives algorithm design from detailed software and system requirements, including control, state estimation, autonomy, or perception-adjacent logic.
• Works closely with cross-functional teams (software, electrical, mechanical, systems, and test) to integrate software across robotic platforms.
• Supports reuse of robotic software components across different programs and products.
• Operates in a continuous learning environment under moderate supervision; provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers.
• Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable technical and operational factors.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Math, or Physics is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Minimum 8 - 12 years of relevant experience in Linux application software development.
• Object Oriented Design experience is required.
• Significant experience in C++.
• Able to contribute to core design tradeoffs of why one implementation might be advantageous over another.
• Experienced writing unit tests and debugging code.
• Experience with Git or similar source control systems.
• Works well in a small team.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Advanced degree is preferred
• Experience with RTI or other DDS based middlewares.
• Demonstrated mathematical and analytical skills are required.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git, SVN) in production environments, including professional practices such as commit hygiene, branch management, and collaborative workflows.
• Experience working with underwater robotic systems.
• Experience working across multiple robotics domains such as autonomy, perception, controls, or system integration.
• Experience standing up CI/CD infrastructure.
• Experience developing, testing, or deploying software on real robotic hardware is strongly preferred.
• Experienced with Agile Software Development Process Management.
• Experienced with formal and structured lifecycle development process.
• Demonstrates understanding of object-oriented design, data structures, databases, operating systems, and basic networking concepts.
• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for solving complex, system-level robotics problems.
• Demonstrates effective listening, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing skills to communicate effectively in one-on-one and small group settings.
• Demonstrates understanding of the robotic system being developed and how assigned tasks contribute to overall system behavior.
• Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of responsibilities.
• 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 continuously improving individual and team performance.
• 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.

Benefits

• medical
• dental vision
• 401K with company matching
• 9/80 work schedule
• 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.

Physical Demands

Ability to work in an office environment (Constant) Required to stand and sit for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent) Clearance Level No Clearance

ITAR Requirement

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.

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.

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. Citizenship required.

Careers at AeroVironment