Principal Software Engineer - Air Traffic Systems (Onsite)

Date Posted:

2026-03-23

Country:

United States of America

Location:

US-CA-FULLERTON-676 ~ 1801 Hughes Dr ~ BLDG 676

Position Role Type:

Onsite

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:

U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under this program/contract.

Security Clearance Type:

None/Not Required

Security Clearance Status:

Not Required

Our Connected Aviation group offers an exciting opportunity to join our elite Air Traffic Systems (ATS) team as a Principal Software Engineer. This is your chance to contribute to the cutting-edge Wide-Area Augmentation System (WAAS) developed by the FAA, a pivotal element in the transition from ground-based to satellite-based navigation. In this role, you will lead the design, development, integration, and verification of both operational and test software, playing a crucial role in advancing the FAA’s satellite navigation roadmap and ensuring the safety of civil aviation.

What You Will Do:

• You will lead and participate on software teams designing, developing, and testing real-time safety-critical operational software, including non-operational tools development.
• You will collaborate with the software and leadership teams to support cost and schedule objectives, ensuring project goals are met efficiently.
• You will support both formal and informal software integration and test activities, contributing to the seamless deployment of software solutions.
• You will assist in software qualification testing to meet DO-178B standards for requirements-based verification and robustness testing, ensuring compliance and quality.
• You will update software process documentation and work instructions to align with DO-178B standards and company processes, maintaining accurate and current documentation.
• You will revise documentation related to test, verification, and design activities to ensure all aspects of the software development life cycle are well-documented and up to date.

What You Will Learn:

• You will gain expertise in architecting and designing real-time safety critical programs in satellite-based air traffic systems, impacting civil aviation domestically and internationally.
• You will acquire comprehensive knowledge of the product life cycle of safety critical systems, from initial design to deployment, within a dynamic and innovative team environment.
• You will develop skills essential for shaping the future of aviation technology, contributing directly to advancements in civil aviation globally.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 8 years prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field and minimum 5 years of experience
• Must have a minimum of 8 years of experience in the Software Engineering field, specifically within a Unix/Linux environment, with expertise in C Programming, structured programming, and the full software development lifecycle.
• Must have prior experience with Embedded and/or Real-Time Safety Critical software development, demonstrating your ability to handle critical and high-stakes projects.
• Must have prior experience in software testing (Unit Test, Integration Test, System Test, etc.) and source code debugging, including the use of debuggers, to ensure thorough and effective software quality assurance.
• Must have prior experience in source code configuration management systems such as ClearCase/ClearQuest, Jira, or BitBucket/Git, as well as requirements management systems like DOORS, to manage and streamline development processes efficiently.
• U.S. citizenship is required - Only U.S. citizens are authorized to access information under these programs/contracts.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Prior experience with C99 dialect of C, Python, SQL, MATLAB, bash/ksh/Perl scripting.
• Prior experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), especially kernel development.
• Prior experience with VxWorks Operating Systems.
• Prior WAAS Experience and/or familiarity with WAAS processes and procedures.
• Prior knowledge of safety-critical software requirements/DO-178B standards.
• Cost Account Management (CAM) certification.

What We Offer:

Some of our competitive benefits package includes:   

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance  

• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees  

• Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime