Job Overview
The Embedded Systems Group Lead serves both as lead engineer and as a technical manager. The Group Lead provides both technical direction and organizational leadership for the embedded systems software engineering team developing advanced autonomy, control, and mission systems for AEVEX’s UAS platforms. This individual serves as an in-house expert, both for managers from other departments who need software solutions and the less experienced staff within the department. The Embedded Systems Group Lead serves as the primary leader and advocate for the software engineering team representing their needs, removing roadblocks, and acting as their voice to program management, customers, and company leadership. This role bridges technical execution and strategic alignment ensuring that software deliverables meet mission, schedule, and quality objectives while fostering a high-performance engineering culture. The Group Lead looks at different possible solutions and how feasible those options are. The Group Lead will oversee multiple concurrent projects, day-to-day leadership of engineers, resource management, and serve as the primary interface between the software team and program management, systems engineering, flight test, customers, and company leadership. The Group Lead is also responsible for keeping proprietary information confidential.
Essential Functions
- Lead a multidisciplinary software engineering group responsible for embedded, autonomy, and ground-station UAS software development.
- Manage team workload, task assignment, and performance across multiple concurrent programs.
- Balance staffing, priorities, and technical focus to meet both near-term deliverables and long-term capability growth.
- Interface with Flight Test, Systems Engineering, and Hardware teams to ensure system-level integration and rapid iteration.
- Serves as the primary interface between software engineering, program management, customers, and executives.
- Coordinates seamlessly with systems, hardware, and test teams to deliver integrated UAS capabilities
- Implement networked and containerized system design.
- Provide cradle-to-grave ownership of software developed after release, including updates, support, and technical oversight.
- Integrate and maintain real-time systems for flight-critical and autonomy software components.
- Design and oversee integration of sensors, GPS/INS fusion, and communication protocols (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, TCP/UDP).
- Develop and maintain software for embedded Linux and microcontroller-based systems using C, C++, and Python and occasionally other programming languages (C#, Lua, etc).
- Guide implementation of frameworks such as Docker, ROS2, MAVLINK, and TCP/UDP communication for distributed autonomy and mesh networking.
- Oversee embedded and UAV autonomy system software design and integration.
- Oversee CI/CD pipelines, software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing environments.
- Oversee communication protocol design and debugging across mixed hardware interfaces.
- Oversee integration of sensors, radios, routers, and mission equipment into distributed UAV systems.
- Evaluate and integrate new frameworks, open-source libraries, and technologies into the tech base.
- Define and document software requirements, architectures, and interfaces across embedded and companion computing environments.
- Conduct real-time performance optimization and deterministic behavior assurance.
- Promote configuration management, versioning, and documentation discipline.
- Encourages experimentation and technical excellence while ensuring disciplined engineering practices.
- Anticipate technology needs and workforce scaling.
- Perform other duties as required.
- Regular and reliable attendance on a full time basis [or in accordance with posted schedule].
- Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal and external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the company's policies and practices.
- Embodies AEVEX’s cultural values and aligns daily actions with department goals and company culture.
Qualifications and Competencies
- Understanding of configuration, troubleshooting, data analysis, and integration of a wide variety of applications and equipment such as internal software libraries and products, GPS receivers, LiDAR sensors, inertial sensors, network routers, radio modems, serial port hubs, etc.
- Proficiency in C, C++, Python, and exposure to C#, Lua, or similar languages.
- Hands-on experience with ArduPilot or PX4 frameworks preferred.
- Familiarity with ROS, Docker, and distributed networked systems.
- Understanding of DevOps, CI/CD, version control, and software verification in R&D environments.
- Ability to clearly convey complex technical concepts and program status to diverse internal and external audiences.
- Ability to aligns technical execution with program and company objectives.
- Ability to task technical risks in a chaotic environment.
- Champions AEVEX’s culture and empowers employees to take responsibility for their jobs and goals.
- Engages employees by creating a climate in which they want to do their best.
- Sets performance standards and encourages employee engagement and results through delegation, continuous feedback, goal setting, and performance management.
- Maintains employee work schedules.
- Provides oversight and direction to the employees in accordance with AEVEX’s policies and procedures.
- Ability to serves as lead advocate for the Software team, consistently representing and supporting the engineering team’s needs and perspectives to leadership.
- Ability to build and develop high-performing teams through mentorship, accountability, and empowerment.
- Ability to clearly articulates expectations to Software team and is transparent in decision making.
- Ability to takes ownership of technical outcomes, schedule adherence, and team performance metrics.
Education / Certifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or related field required, MS preferred
Experience
- 7+ years of software development experience, with experience in technical leadership or teamlead roles preferred.
- Proven experience developing autopilot systems, ground control stations, or flight simulation software.
- Prior experience in robotics, autonomous systems, or multi-agent coordination is highly preferred.
- Extensive experience with embedded systems and Linux-based environments.
- Experience in communication protocol design and debugging across mixed hardware.
- Experience across defense and commercial UAV applications.
- Experience on both military and commercial applications.
- Experience with embedded and companion computing environments (NVIDIA Jetson/Orin, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, STM32).
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties the employee is:
- Occasionally required to stand for extended periods of time
For the purpose of this summary, occasionally is used to represent up to 1/3 of the time given to the work day, frequently represents 1/3 to 2/3 of the time and constantly represents 2/3 or more of the time.
Security Clearance
- Ability to obtain/maintain a Top Secret DoD clearance, U.S. Citizenship required.
Disclaimer
AEVEX Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religious creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, breast feeding and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, military and veteran status, marital status, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, physical disability, mental disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.
About AEVEX
AEVEX, headquartered in Solana Beach, California, supports the U.S. national security mission and partner nation needs around the world by providing full-spectrum aviation, remote sensing, and analysis solutions. The company's capabilities include custom design and engineering; rapid prototyping; sensor integration and sustainment; aircraft modification and certification; flight test instrumentation and support; mission operations service; advanced intelligence data processing, exploitation, and dissemination solutions; and tailored hardware and software mission-system tools. AEVEX uses agile and customized approaches to rapidly define, develop, and deliver specialized solutions for airborne special mission needs for the U.S. Government, partner nations, and commercial businesses. AEVEX has major offices in California, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.
AEVEX provides a full suite of comprehensive benefits, including a 401(k)-retirement plan, comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life insurance group coverage with a portion of the premiums paid by the company, professional development funds, and an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) with counseling, legal help, child and elder care support, among other benefits for qualified employees.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
AEVEX is an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religious creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, breast feeding and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, military and veteran status, marital status, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, physical disability, mental disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.
