Software Engineering Manager

Salary: $180,000 - 225,000 per year

• At least 7 years of software engineering experience, including embedded software or firmware development, and at least 2 years of leadership experience.
• Experience leading software engineers, technical teams, or software development efforts across the software lifecycle, including design, development, integration, testing, and release.
• Experience developing and troubleshooting software that interfaces with embedded hardware.
• Strong embedded software development and debugging skills; proficiency in C and/or C++ and embedded development environments.
• Strong understanding of embedded systems, real-time software, hardware/software interfaces, and communication protocols.
• Ability to lead technically while managing personnel, priorities, schedules, and deliverables; strong architecture, design, code review, troubleshooting, delegation, coaching, and performance-management skills.
• Knowledge of configuration management, version control, requirements traceability, and change-control practices; ability to turn system and software requirements into actionable engineering work.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced engineering environment.
• Bachelors degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline; a relevant masters degree is preferred.
• Preferred: knowledge of RTOS environments, microcontrollers, processors, device drivers, low-level hardware interfaces, aerospace software standards, Git-based workflows, CI/CD, automated testing, static analysis, cybersecurity, secure software practices, and Python or other scripting languages.
• Must meet the stated U.S. export-control eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under ITAR, or eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations. The posting also states that security-clearance eligibility requires U.S. citizenship.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screening and background check and be eligible to obtain a security clearance.
• Must relocate to Santa Maria, California, before starting work; the position is in person.

• Lead and manage our embedded software engineering team, including workload planning, priorities, assignments, performance, and professional development.
• Provide hands-on leadership in designing, developing, integrating, testing, troubleshooting, and maintaining embedded software and firmware.
• Set software architecture, design approaches, coding practices, development processes, and technical standards for aerospace and mission-critical applications.
• Review software designs, source code, test results, technical documentation, and engineering changes for technical adequacy, quality, and compliance.
• Convert system, customer, and program requirements into development plans, technical tasks, and team priorities.
• Coordinate with Program Management and Engineering leadership to develop and maintain schedules, resource plans, estimates, and technical milestones.
• Delegate work with clear technical requirements, priorities, deliverables, and completion expectations, and remain accountable for execution.
• Provide technical direction, mentoring, training, and development so engineers can carry out their responsibilities effectively and independently.
• Track progress, identify technical and schedule risks, and take corrective action or escalate issues as needed.
• Lead software integration, debugging, root-cause analysis, and resolution of complex software, hardware/software interface, and system-level issues.
• Collaborate with Systems, Electrical, Test, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program Management teams throughout product development.
• Establish and maintain software configuration management, version control, change control, documentation, traceability, and release practices.
• Support verification and validation, including software test strategies, procedures, automated testing, and test-result documentation.
• Ensure software activities follow applicable company procedures, contractual and customer requirements, cybersecurity requirements, and export-control requirements.
• Represent software engineering in technical reviews, customer meetings, design reviews, audits, proposal work, and program planning.
• Assess software tools, processes, technologies, and development practices, and implement improvements to quality, reliability, efficiency, and team effectiveness.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• CI/CD
• Embedded
• Firmware
• Git
• Hardware
• Support
• Python
• Security
• Linux

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We are Space Information Laboratories (SIL), an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws; we prohibit harassment and retaliation. Our Software Engineering Manager reports to the President and leads a team developing, integrating, testing, and maintaining software for aerospace and mission-critical systems, combining technical and personnel leadership with active software development and decision-making. The position is based in person in Santa Maria, California, with annual pay of $180,000–$225,000. We offer a 401(k) with matching, including a stated 4% match, AD&D, dental, dependent health, health, life, and vision insurance, bereavement leave, a flexible schedule, paid holidays, paid sick time, paid time off, relocation assistance, and tuition reimbursement.

last updated 43 week of 2026