Staff Software Developer Supervisor

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems; Poway (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 191,000; Full time

Job summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is seeking a Software Engineering Supervisor to lead a high-performing team delivering mission-critical embedded software for aerospace and defense systems.

You will oversee full lifecycle activities from architecture through release, ensuring robust configuration management across multiple configurations. The ideal candidate will mentor engineers, coordinate cross-functional activities, and drive rigorous reviews and process improvements in a

Qualifications

• Nine or more years of software development experience with a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles including architecture, modular design, integration, and lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor software engineers and coordinate work across a development team.
• Experience developing software for complex integrated systems (distributed, real-time, embedded).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of software engineers, including task assignment, technical guidance, and performance feedback.
• Coordinate development activities across all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle.
• Support planning and execution of software releases across multiple configurations.
• Ensure releases align with configuration management, procedures, and quality standards.
• Provide technical oversight of software architecture, implementation approaches, and integration strategies.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities with systems engineering, test, and program management.
• Support software integration and troubleshooting in lab, simulation, and operational environments.
• Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and test readiness reviews.
• Evaluate and implement process improvements to enhance development efficiency and delivery reliability.
• Act as primary technical contact for assigned software scope.

Skills

Team leadership

Software engineering principles

Communication

Independent work

DoD security clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Job description

Job Summary

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

As a Software Engineering Supervisor at General Atomics, you will lead a high-performing team of software engineers developing and delivering advanced software solutions for world-leading aerospace and defense systems. Your work will directly support mission-critical capabilities deployed in complex operational environments, contributing to technologies that have meaningful real-world impact.

In this role, you will guide your team across the full software development lifecycle—from architecture and implementation through integration, verification, and release—within a disciplined engineering environment. You will oversee development and delivery across multiple system configurations and operational scenarios, ensuring rigorous configuration management, robust system integration, and controlled, traceable software releases.

You will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners including systems engineering, integration labs, test organizations, and program leadership to solve complex technical challenges and deliver reliable, high-quality software for integrated hardware-software platforms. This position requires strong technical leadership, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to coordinate development efforts across interconnected systems and teams.

This role offers the opportunity to make a significant contribution to industry-leading aerospace and defense products while advancing both your leadership capabilities and technical depth within a collaborative, high-performance engineering culture.

Technical Environment

Our team develops mission-critical embedded software for aerospace systems using primarily C, along with some C++ and python.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of software engineers, including task assignment, technical guidance, and performance feedback.
• Coordinate development activities across all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle.
• Support planning and execution of software releases across multiple system or customer configurations.
• Ensure engineering work aligns with configuration management processes, release procedures, and quality standards.
• Provide technical oversight of software architecture, implementation approaches, and integration strategies.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities with systems engineering, test, integration labs, and program management.
• Support software integration and troubleshooting within lab, simulation, and operational environments.
• Participate in technical reviews including design reviews, code reviews, and test readiness reviews.
• Evaluate and implement process improvements to enhance development efficiency, quality, and delivery reliability.
• Act as the primary point of contact for external engineering teams, program management, and customers within assigned projects.
• Support program execution needs, including schedule-driven integration or release activities.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in computer science, information system or related discipline and progressive software development experience as follows; nine or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, seven or more years of experience with a masters degree, or four or more years with a PhD. May substitute equivalent experience in lieu of education.
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles including system architecture, modular design, integration, and lifecycle management.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor software engineers and coordinate technical work across a development team.
• Experience developing software for complex integrated systems (e.g., distributed systems, real-time systems, embedded platforms, or hardware-software integrated environments).
• Ability to organize, schedule, and manage technical work across multiple concurrent efforts with competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate technical approaches, make sound engineering decisions, and resolve complex system-level problems.
• Experience supporting software integration, verification, and test activities across lab, simulation, or operational environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation and formal 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 supporting configuration-controlled software delivery within integrated lab or operational environments (e.g., simulation, hardware-in-the-loop, or fielded systems), including formal configuration management and traceable, baselined releases across multiple system configurations.
• Willingness to support program execution needs, including extended hours during integration or release milestones when required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance is required

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a technical leadership or management role
• Experience working in regulated, safety-critical, or mission-critical software environments.
• Experience with multi-configuration or product-line software development.
• Experience with automated testing, build systems, or development environment provisioning.
• Experience supporting formal software releases or customer deliveries.
• Experience with simulation environments or hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Experience developing software for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or remotely piloted aircraft.
• Experience supporting software development in accordance with DO-178 or similar certification standards.
• Experience integrating AI-assisted development tools into team workflows while maintaining engineering rigor, configuration control, and verification of generated artifacts.
• Prior technical lead or supervisory experience.

Job Type: Full-Time Salary

Salary range: 112,070 - 191,330