Freelance Automotive Embedded Systems Jobs in Virginia

Position Title: Senior Embedded Software Engineering Manager
Requisition ID: 1848
Position Location: Fairfax, VA
Position Reports To: Director, Software Engineering
Supervises Others: Yes

At Trident Systems Space Electronic Systems (SES) division, we believe in the power of using strong engineering principles to drive innovation and solve complex problems. We foster a culture of rigorous engineering and continuous improvement, leveraging the full knowledge of our organization through collaborative product development processes that include design and peer reviews. We combine our expertise in space electronics with right-sized development processes to create innovative, high-performance space-based electronic systems that meet our customers' evolving needs.

We are a mission partner supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil space customers. We develop complex, radiation effects mitigated, designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space.

Position Summary
 

The Embedded Software Functional Manager leads and develops a team of embedded software engineers supporting multiple programs. The role is responsible for personnel development, staffing, technical leadership, engineering process, and successful program execution.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role. In addition to functional management responsibilities, the manager may directly contribute to software architecture, design, development, integration, and troubleshooting based on program needs.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in embedded and real-time software development and experience leading teams developing complex, hardware-integrated systems. Aerospace, defense, or space experience is desirable but not required.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop embedded software engineers and technical leads.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and retain engineering talent.
• Conduct performance management, career development, coaching, and goal setting.
• Work with program and technical leadership to develop staffing plans and allocate resources across programs.
• Support software estimates, schedules, proposals, and development planning.
• Monitor execution against cost, schedule, staffing, and technical commitments and identify risks early.
• Provide technical leadership for embedded software architecture, design, development, integration, and test.
• Contribute directly to software development, integration, debugging, or technical problem solving when needed.
• Participate in requirements, architecture, design, code, and release-readiness reviews.
• Establish and improve software engineering practices including requirements traceability, configuration management, peer reviews, testing, defect management, and release management.
• Promote reusable software, automated testing, CI/CD, static analysis, and common development infrastructure.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Verification/Test, Cybersecurity, DevOps, Quality, and Program Management.
• Support resolution of complex hardware/software and system integration issues.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, continuous improvement, and predictable execution.
• Maintain sufficient hands-on technical capability to contribute to development efforts, evaluate technical approaches, mentor engineers, and assist with difficult integration and debugging activities.
• Ability to support travel or off-site work, as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or related discipline.
• 12+ years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree OR 10+ years for a Graduate degree.
• Experience developing embedded and/or real-time software using C/C++, with experience in embedded Linux and/or RTOS environments.
• Strong hands-on software development and debugging experience.
• Experience with Hardware/Software, Ethernet, networking, and serial communication interfaces.
• Experience with Hardware/Software and system-level integration.
• Demonstrated experience leading engineers or technical teams.
• Strong understanding of the software lifecycle from requirements through integration and verification.
• Experience planning and estimating software development activities.
• Ability to manage resources and priorities across multiple programs.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical talent. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in relevant technical discipline.
• Previous Engineering Manager, Functional Manager, Software Lead, or Technical Lead experience.
• Experience developing high-reliability or mission-critical embedded systems.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, space, automotive, robotics, industrial, or similar embedded-system environments.
• Experience with structured engineering lifecycle processes and Agile/iterative development.
• Experience supporting proposals, staffing plans, and engineering cost estimates.
• Experience with ARM-based processors and System-on-Chip architectures.
• Experience with Git, automated builds/testing, CI/CD, and static analysis.

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $143,000 - $266,000
 

Please Note: Actual compensation offered will be determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, internal equity, business considerations, and geographic location where applicable.

Benefits 

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

• Health benefits
  • Medical 
  • Dental 
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short term disability
  • Long term disability
  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
  • Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k) (including company match)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)
• Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position. 

Trident Solutions is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact recruiting@tridsys.com.

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)