Senior Software Engineer

The primary role of the Software Engineer is to serve as a versatile "Jack of All Trades" engineer on a small, high-impact development team. This role is built for someone who enjoys taking ideas from concept to working prototype in fast, iterative cycles and thrives when jumping into unfamiliar technical challenges.

You'll work across multiple layers of the stack-including UI, backend services, infrastructure, integrations, and data systems-while helping modernize how mission software is built and deployed. This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys variety, learns quickly, and wants meaningful ownership across multiple technical domains rather than being siloed into one narrow specialty.

Position Responsibilities

• Design, develop, maintain, and enhance complex software systems based on documented requirements
• Build features end-to-end across frontend, backend services, databases, and integrations
• Develop and execute simulations in development and test environments
• Support system design decisions including hardware/software tradeoffs and COTS/GOTS evaluations
• Perform requirements analysis and translate system-level requirements into technical implementations
• Build and maintain microservices architectures
• Design and consume RESTful APIs
• Containerize applications using Docker or Podman
• Deploy and manage services in Kubernetes environments
• Troubleshoot issues across application, infrastructure, and data layers
• Improve performance, scalability, and maintainability across systems
• Work independently while maintaining strong ownership and follow-through
• Collaborate with teammates and stakeholders to deliver incremental improvements
• Adapt quickly to new tools, technologies, and project needs

Do you have experience in System design for system development?, * Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Math, or Physics is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience

• Minimum 8-12 years of relevant software engineering experience
• Active TS/SCI with Polygraph
• Strong Java development experience
• Experience with React or modern JavaScript frameworks
• Experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs
• Experience with Docker or Podman
• Experience with Kubernetes
• Experience designing and implementing microservices architectures

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with machine learning workflows
• Experience with streaming data processing
• Experience with batch processing workflows
• Experience working with MongoDB
• Experience working with ArangoDB
• Experience working with Redis
• Experience working with PostgreSQL
• Experience deploying applications in AWS environments
• Experience working in hyper-converged infrastructure environments
• Ability to quickly learn new technologies and frameworks
• Experience working in Agile development environments

Pulled from the full job description

• Parental leave
• Health insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance, Salary Range: $125,000.00 - $270,000.00

The pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Determination of official compensation or salary relies on several factors including, but not limited to, level of position, job responsibilities, geographic location, scope of relevant work experience, educational background, certifications, contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, alignment with local internal equity as well as alignment with market data.

Our compensation package also includes components designed to support employees' total well-being, which should be considered when evaluating our competitive benefits package. These benefits include health insurance, life insurance, disability, company holiday and paid time off, parental leave, 401(k) company match and contributions, professional development/training reimbursements, and other work/life programs.

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we've been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world's most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution's permanent collection in Washington, DC. Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty - and succeed. What We Do Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company's hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.