General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc

Software Developer VI

Poway, CA 92064In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field (Master's or PhD preferred) and 7-12 years of progressive software development experience.
  • Strong grasp of software engineering principles such as system architecture and lifecycle management.
  • Proven ability to lead, mentor, and coordinate development teams.
  • Experience with complex integrated systems, including distributed and real-time environments.
  • Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple concurrent technical efforts.
  • Strong decision-making capabilities in engineering problem-solving.
  • Effective communication skills for documentation and engineering reviews.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and mentor a team of software engineers through task assignments and performance feedback.
  • Coordinate development across all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle.
  • Plan and execute overlapping software releases for different system configurations.
  • Ensure adherence to configuration management and quality standards in engineering work.
  • Provide oversight for software architecture and integration strategies.
  • Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with other engineering and management teams.
  • Support integration and troubleshooting in various operational settings.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on critical aerospace and defense systems.
  • Engagement in a collaborative, high-performance engineering environment.
  • Pathway to strengthen leadership and technical expertise.
  • Support for professional development within a mission-driven culture.
Full Job Description
Job Summary

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.

DUTIES & 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.

Job Qualifications

  • Typically requires a bachelors degree, masters degree or PhD in computer science, information systems or related discipline and progressive software development experience as follows; twelve or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, ten or more years of experience with a masters degree, or seven 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 DoD security clearance required.
Preferred Qualifications
  • 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.

About General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is a leading designer and manufacturer of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator® RPA series and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent situational awareness and rapid strike capabilities. The company is headquartered in Poway, California, and has additional offices and facilities around the world.
Learn more about General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc
Size
14,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1955

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