Principal Software Engineer
$147k - $224.3k
Expert
Bachelor's
Moorpark, CA, USA
In PersonPeriodic travel to approved flying locations and occasionally within the Continental U.S. may be required.
Software EngineeringEmbedded Engineering
No H1B Sponsorship
US Citizenship Required
About the job
Requirements
- A Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field is required, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- At least 12 years of relevant experience is required; the posting states a minimum range of 12–15 years.
- Experience troubleshooting systems is required, with proficiency in Python, C, C++11, C++ Standard Template Library, and/or OpenCL.
- Knowledge of Visual Studio, Eclipse, or a similar integrated development environment, as well as defect-tracking tools, is required.
- Experience working with common protocols such as RS-485, RS-232, CAN, I2C, SPI, and USB is required.
- Mathematical and analytical skills are required.
- Periodic travel to support testing equipment at approved flying locations is likely required.
- Development periods may require long, irregular hours around deadlines, including weekends and some holidays, and work in field-test environments.
- U.S. citizenship is required. The candidate must presently hold or be capable of obtaining a U.S. security clearance.
- The position requires access to ITAR/EAR-controlled information. Applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR/EAR or be eligible for an export license; some positions require current U.S. citizenship due to contract requirements.
- The role requires the ability to work in an office and research and development environment, and to stand and sit for long periods, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard.
Responsibilities
- Write and test software to support integration of sensors and embedded processors into aircraft, including autopilots, payloads, software-defined radios, and other functional components, or into other robotic systems.
- Design and implement software for prototypes and products using established company and industry tools and practices, and ensure good software configuration control and management.
- Lead the writing of system requirements and system test plans, develop diagnostic tools, and lead software validation testing. Assist with hardware selection and recommend system processing, memory, and storage needs.
- Lead rapid prototyping and conceptual-level testing, estimate software development time, and scope development with project and program management to meet timeline and budget constraints.
- Work closely with other engineering disciplines and contribute to completing project work.
- Lead and support the transition of development software to production environments and certification, and participate in multidisciplinary development teams.
- Develop proof-of-concept capability demonstrations and conduct and support design reviews.
- Contribute to the company's software development process by developing quality code.
- Work on significant and unique issues that require evaluation of intangible factors when analyzing situations or data.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
- An advanced degree is preferred.
- Experience with Test Driven Development and unit testing software is preferred.
- Understanding of automated build environments, automated testing, and deployment is preferred.
- Knowledge of object-oriented programming and multithreaded design, plus tools such as JIRA and source-code control tools such as SVN, Bitbucket, or GitLab, is preferred.
- Experience with STM32 family processors and real-time operating systems such as µC/OS or FreeRTOS is preferred.
- Experience using Video4Linux and modifying and compiling Embedded Linux systems is preferred.
- Experience developing drivers for Linux/ARM is required; familiarity with Robot Operating System (ROS) is a plus.
- Knowledge of electronics and experience using laboratory equipment are preferred.
- Understanding the design of the system being worked on and how assigned tasks contribute to that system is preferred.
- Competency in researching and re-engineering to propose alternative solutions to issues is preferred.
About the company
AeroVironment designs and builds defense robotic systems for air, land, and space, including small hand-launched drones, high-altitude surveillance aircraft, and the Switchblade loitering munition. Its products operate as autonomous or semi-autonomous platforms with sensors, control software, and payloads, enabling reconnaissance and, for weapons-enabled models, targeted strikes. It differentiates itself by combining a deep unmanned-aircraft heritage with a growing multi-domain defense portfolio and strategic acquisitions to broaden capabilities into space tech, counter-UAS, and directed energy. Its goal is to become a broad defense-technology provider that wins large, long-term contracts by offering integrated, autonomous systems across multiple domains.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Crystal City, Virginia
Founded
1971
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- September 9, 2026 revenue hit $480.5 million with $1.5 billion funded backlog.
- LOCUST won a first international order over $50 million on September 8, 2026.
- P550, Titan MS, and E-HEL bookings diversify growth beyond Raven and Switchblade.
What critics are saying
- SCAR's March 2026 termination erased a $1.7 billion program and sparked a lawsuit.
- Fiscal 2027 free cash flow stays negative as facility capex peaks across four states.
- Boeing, Anduril, and cheaper drone suppliers pressure AVAV pricing and win rates.
What makes AeroVironment unique
- LOCUST became the Army's first production high-energy laser contract on September 2, 2026.
- BlueHalo and ESAero give AVAV space, cyber, directed energy, and UAS breadth.
- AVAV's national manufacturing footprint and AV_Halo software stack tie systems together.
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Benefits
- Health, Dental, & Vision
- Health Savings Account
- 401(k) Account
- Alternative Work Schedule
- Educational and Tuition Assistance Programs
- Employee Assistance Program
- Sick Leave Donation
- Time Off
- Travel Assistance
- Company Sponsored Events