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 is seeking a seasoned Software Developer to join the team in Poway, CA. Your work will directly support flight and mission-critical capabilities deployed in complex operational environments, contributing to technologies that have meaningful real-world impact.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Determine user requirements and specifications and plan for software development within the broader organizational scope. Software development includes end-user, system level, and data management applications.
- 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 systems or related discipline and progressive software development experience as follows; six or more years of experience with a bachelors degree, four or more years of experience with a masters degree, or two 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.