Software Engineering Manager
Role details
Job location
Tech stack
Job description
The Senior Software Engineering Manager leads the development, certification, and sustainment of flight-critical embedded software for aircraft power systems and components. This role is accountable for managing DALA-certified software in compliance with RTCA/DO-178 (DAL A/B/C) standards and ensuring delivery of safe, robust, and compliant products for aerospace customers.
This leader will manage a direct team of software engineers in Harleysville, PA, with dotted-line leadership of a global support team in India and collaboration across engineering groups in Wichita, KS; Bothell, WA; and Bangalore, India. Success in this role requires deep technical credibility in safety-critical avionics software, strong people leadership, and disciplined execution in a regulated environment., Technical & Certification Leadership
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Provide technical and organizational leadership for DO-178 DALA-certified software, including planning, execution, reviews, and audits.
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Own software lifecycle compliance from concept through certification, release, and in-service support.
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Ensure development artifacts meet certification needs, including:
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Software Development Plans (SDP), SVP, SCMP, SQAP
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High- and low-level requirements
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Traceability, verification, and configuration baselines
Serve as a technical authority during certification activities with FAA, DERs, and customer audit teams. People & Team Leadership
- Lead, coach, and develop high-performing software engineers, technical leads, and future managers.
- Foster a culture of quality, accountability, and engineering rigor, especially for safety-critical systems.
- Provide functional leadership and work prioritization for a global, dotted-line support team in India.
- Support hiring, onboarding, succession planning, and performance management across locations.
Program & Cross-Functional Execution
- Partner closely with systems engineering, hardware, quality, manufacturing, and program management to deliver integrated power system solutions.
- Translate system-level and certification requirements into executable software plans and schedules.
- Manage staffing, capacity, and technical risk across multiple concurrent programs.
- Escalate and resolve technical, schedule, or certification risks early and decisively.
Technology, Process, & Continuous Improvement
- Establish and maintain best practices for embedded and airborne software development, including coding standards, design reviews, and verification strategy.
- Drive continuous improvement in software development efficiency while maintaining certification integrity.
- Champion disciplined use of requirements management, change control, and defect management tools.
- Mentor teams in modern but cert-appropriate development approaches (e.g., Agile within DO-178 constraints).
Requirements
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Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
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Typically 10+ years of progressive software engineering experience in embedded or real-time systems.
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Significant engineering leadership experience, including people management.
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Demonstrated ownership of DO-178 DALA or DALB software programs, from planning through certification including SAE ARP4754A / ARP4761 guidelines.
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Strong understanding of safety-critical software architecture, verification independence, configuration management, and tool qualification considerations.
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Proven ability to lead multi-site and global engineering teams., * Master's degree in a relevant technical discipline.
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Experience with aircraft electrical power systems, avionics, or flight-critical control software.
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Prior interaction with FAA, DERs, or certification authorities.
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Familiarity with:
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DOORS or equivalent requirements management tools
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Cybersecurity elements relevant to avionics (e.g., secure boot, encryption, hashing)
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Embedded C/C++, real-time operating systems (RTOS)
Experience operating within matrixed or dotted-line organizational structures.
Key Competencies & Attributes
- Safety-first mindset with uncompromising attention to product quality.
- Strong technical judgment and ability to balance schedule, cost, and certification risk.
- Clear, concise communicator with engineers, executives, and external stakeholders.
- Comfortable making decisions in complex, regulated environments.
- Trusted leader who sets direction, removes obstacles, and develops talent.
Benefits & conditions
- Lead highly specialized teams in a technically challenging, certification-driven environment.
- Access to global expertise across AMETEK businesses while maintaining product ownership.
- Competitive compensation, benefits, and long-term career growth., Employee Type: Salaried
Salary Minimum: $160,000
Salary Maximum: $190,000
Incentive: No