Lead Embedded Software Engineer - Secret Clearance

Embedded Software Engineer

Are you an Embedded Software Engineer who loves working on innovative technologies? If so, GE Aerospace Defense and Systems wants you to join their Advanced Technologies team in Grand Rapids, MI. You will be part of a cross-functional team that develops innovative solutions for capabilities on custom hardware. You will work on projects related to stores management, cyber security, networking, and sensing and signal processing.

This opportunity is based in Grand Rapids, MI, but don't worry, GE will provide comprehensive corporate relocation assistance.

GE Aerospace is a leader in inventing the future of flight. GE offers competitive salaries and a full range of benefits, including 401K contributions and matching, flexible work arrangements, generous time off, tuition reimbursement, and various health insurance options.

Job Description

As a Lead Embedded Software Engineer you will play a vital role in designing, developing, and testing embedded software, firmware, platforms and systems for our mission-critical technologies and products. You will work with a team of passionate and skilled engineers who share your vision of creating innovative and reliable embedded systems. To succeed in this position, you will need a background in embedded systems, a keen eye for detail, and a deep understanding of real-time systems and their constraints. You will also need to demonstrate your ability to take full ownership of your role and deliver high-quality software solutions. The role has moderate autonomy, requiring high levels of operational judgment.

Responsibilities:

• Designs and/or programs/develops a small module or a large component, feature, set of features, whole feature area or entire embedded software product.
• Define and formalize system, hardware, software, and human integration requirements.
• Define and execute engineering test, validation, and verification activities.
• Follow established software development methodologies and principles and document your tasks and designs.
• Validate and verify software designs in a diversity of system integration environments – from local desktop computer simulations to fully representative flight tests.
• Implement protocols and algorithms for resource-constrained environments and collaborate with the hardware team to enable communication between modules and applications.
• Ensure software robustness, resilience, and fail-safe operation for critical devices, and mitigate potential safety and security vulnerabilities.
• Create detailed design and technical documentation, optimize existing applications, and implement new features.
• Participate in task prioritization, execution, requirements, specifications, code and design reviews, and mentorship across the software development life cycle.
• Apply best practices for embedded software engineering and understand the key business drivers and product roadmap.
• Deliver your work to support project scope, cost, and schedule targets, and interface effectively with all levels of the organization and customers.
• Propose novel solutions to technical challenges, generate cost and time estimates for future bids and programs, and utilize hardware/software to demonstrate capability against customer expectations.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree + 5 years of related embedded software engineering experience or Master's degree + 2 years of experience in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related STEM fields
• Proficiency in Ada, C, C++ or equivalent languages.
• Location: Grand Rapids, MI. This is a fully onsite position requiring attendance five days per week. A comprehensive corporate relocation package is available for eligible candidates.
• This role requires the successful candidate to maintain a US Government Security Clearance; prerequisite for a security clearance is U.S. Citizenship. Preference will be given to candidates who currently hold US Government Security Clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master's degree in engineering or computer science.
• Extensive experience in Ada for embedded software design, development, and testing.
• Knowledge of scripting languages (Python, Perl, Tcl, etc.) and code management tools (Git, CVS, SVN, Perforce, etc.)
• Experience with network protocols with an understanding of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking concepts, including Ethernet, Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tagging where applicable. Familiarity with Neighbor Discovery (ND) in IPv6 is highly desirable.
• Experience implementing or integrating Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) and Internet Key Exchange (IKE) (version 1 and/or version 2).
• Experience with RTOS (Linux, FreeRTOS, QNX, VxWorks, etc.) and device drivers for complex systems using parallel processing, multi-threading, distributed processing, multi-core, SoM, and/or secure processing.
• Experience with embedded software testing, debugging, and integration on hardware using debuggers (gdb, lldb, etc.), test equipment (scopes, analyzers, multi-meters, etc.), and UARTs, JTAGs and oscilloscopes.
• Experience working in mission-critical industries (aerospace, automotive, defense, first responder, medical devices, etc.) and turning CONOPS, Specifications or Requirements into software design, code, test plans and execution.
• Innovative, critical thinking and troubleshooting skills and proficiency with IDEs, version control tools, defect tracking tools and scripting tools.
• Experience with bare metal software design and optimization for cycles and memory and fundamental facility with compilers, build and source code control tools.
• Experience with model-based engineering using Cameo.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledgeable of system interfaces (e.g. Ethernet, Mil-Std-1553, Serial).
• Knowledgeable of component interfaces (e.g. I2C, SPI, PCIe).
• Possess a current US Government Security Clearance.

The base pay range for this position is $112,000.00 - $149,000.00 USD Annual. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate's experience, education, and skill set. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus based on a percentage of your base salary/ commission based on the plan. This posting is expected to close on 10/31/26.

GE Aerospace offers comprehensive benefits and programs to support your health and, along with programs like HealthAhead, your physical, emotional, financial and social wellbeing. Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach from GE Aerospace; and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Aerospace Retirement Savings Plan, a 401(k) savings plan with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and paid time-off for vacation or illness.

GE Aerospace (General Electric Company or the Company) and its affiliates each sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs (i.e., is a "Sponsor"). Each Sponsor reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a Sponsor's welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.

This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

GE Aerospace offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. GE Aerospace will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable). Employees may also be subject to random and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing.