Manager, Software Engineering

Manager, Software Engineering

The Manager, Software Engineering, leads a software QA, automation, and DevSecOps team, growing the people, processes, and tools that systematically verify mission systems software and maintain robust development and test infrastructure. As a member of the Engineering management team, the Manager defines and executes the team's strategy, budget, staffing, and development, and coordinates across software engineering, the system test team, programs, and information security to reduce software quality and program risk.

Position Responsibilities:

• Manages a group of software QA, automation, and DevOps engineers, including budget planning, staffing, training, performance evaluation and career development. Attracts and retains high caliber staff and provides mentorship
• Defines the team's roles, ways of working, and a clear scope that complements (rather than duplicates) the software development and system test teams
• Sets the strategy for test coverage, automation frameworks, and CI/CD and lab infrastructure across programs
• Establishes and owns QA standards, metrics, and reporting; the bug reporting and review process; and go/no-go release recommendations to the system test team
• Leads software risk identification, tracking, and mitigation across programs
• Collaborates with software engineering, the system test team, programs, and information security to align quality goals and engineering processes
• Works in an Agile environment to coordinate the team's work including scope, scheduling and resourcing
• Frequently interacts with subordinate supervisors, customers and/or functional peer group managers, normally involving matters between functional areas
• Establishes and assures adherence to budgets, schedules and work plans. Interacts with senior management
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience):

• BS degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with a strong background in software quality, test automation, and/or DevOps/CI-CD
• At least 2+ years in a supervisory or technical lead role, successfully managing or leading a technical team
• Experience defining test strategy, automation frameworks, and quality processes for complex software
• Experienced with modern development and CI/CD tooling (e.g., Git/GitLab, CI pipelines, containerization) and Linux environments
• Demonstrated ability to work across engineering, test, and program teams to drive quality and reduce risk
• Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies:

• Advanced degree is desired
• Background testing embedded, robotics, UAS, or other safety- or mission-critical software is a strong plus
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and managing lab/test infrastructure (hardware-in-the-loop environments) is a plus
• Demonstrates competency in communicating technically and effectively across engineering, test, and program groups and staff
• Skilled at identifying, communicating and mitigating technical risks and issues
• Embraces AI-assisted development and test tooling and encourages its adoption to improve team efficiency and quality
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
• Exercises independent judgment in methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change
• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships
• Assesses the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity

Physical Demands:

• Ability to work in an office and production environment (Constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements:

• U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.
• Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.

Clearance Level

Secret

The salary range for this role is:

$117,500 - $179,250

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment's determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment's business requirements. A "U.S. person" according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit:

We also encourage you to review our company website at to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isn't for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don't just build defense technologywe redefine what's possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonianbut we're not building history, we're building what's next.

If you're ready to build technology that matterswith speed, scale, and purposethere's no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required. Must be willing to work on government contracts and have the ability to obtain a security clearance.