Sr Specialist, Software Engineering Functional Lead

About Acron Aviation (Avionics):

Acron Aviation designs, engineers, and manufactures certified avionics systems that support safety‑critical flight operations across commercial and military aviation. Our avionics portfolio includes surveillance, recorders, displays, and related systems developed in regulated environments and deployed on aircraft worldwide. We partner closely with operators and OEMs to deliver reliable, certifiable technology throughout the full product lifecycle—from development and qualification through production and aftermarket support. At Acron Aviation, avionics engineering is rooted in technical rigor, operational discipline, and a customer‑first approach to execution.

About our Surveillance Product Line:

Acron Aviation’s Surveillance organization develops and sustains safety‑critical systems that enable aircraft awareness, collision avoidance, and airspace interoperability. Our surveillance portfolio includes ADS‑B, Mode S transponders, traffic collision avoidance, and integrated surveillance solutions deployed across commercial, military, and rotorcraft platforms. This work is performed in highly regulated environments. It requires deep expertise in systems, hardware, software, and RF across the full lifecycle—from requirements and certification through production and in‑service support. Surveillance engineering at Acron Aviation emphasizes technical rigor, disciplined execution, and close coordination with operators and OEM partners.

Job Description:

As an Sr Spec, Software Engineering Functional Lead, you are in a dual-role lead position, involving both front-line people leadership of a team of avionics software engineers and supporting the performance of individual software engineers on a program. Acron Aviation is seeking a top-notch influencer, motivator, and leader who can grow, guide, and coordinate a team of software engineers while advancing their own career as a software engineering lead for engineering development projects. The applicant will be the primary focal point, serving as the interface to the engineering project lead and program management team, while also interacting with other engineering functions on projects involving mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering in the planning, designing, manufacturing, and testing of avionics, transponders, RF, and Sensor-based systems.

The Software Engineering Functional Lead owns the technical execution and quality of software deliverables within their domain, while partnering with Project Leads on schedule, integration, and cross-functional coordination.

Essential Functions:

• Accountable for software engineering tasks for Surveillance development projects in a dynamic environment. This will include coordination with offshore engineers with our partner suppliers.
• Partner with Product Owners, Project Leads, and Systems Engineering to manage priorities, dependencies, and commitments
• Actively remove impediments and drive predictable execution aligned with program milestones
• Track and communicate delivery metrics (e.g., plan vs actuals, throughput, risk burndown)
• Reviews outputs and provides direction on process compliance aspects
• Makes moderate to substantial improvements to processes, systems, and solutions. Plans and establishes goals and objectives for a team with direct impact on the short-term operational results for the department.
• Influence and drive the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence and increase the utilization of automation tools and methodologies in the existing software engineering development environment, processes, and lifecycle artifacts seeking:
• Measurable outcomes (cycle time, quality, compliance)
• Guardrails for DO-178 / safety-critical contexts
• Explains, interprets, and gains cooperation on policies, practices, and processes from others within the organization.

Qualifications:

• BS Degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent fields required
• 6+ years of experience developing real-time embedded software
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience leading a technical team
• Requires practical knowledge in leading and managing the execution of processes, projects, tactics, and employees within a team
• Previous experience with DO-178 development is highly desired
• Experience developing with the C programming language is a plus
• Knowledge of engineering design standards for the commercial aviation industry
• Good written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and teamwork skills required
• Action-oriented, results-driven, high-energy, self-starter, innovative with new approaches to design work, influential with peers, and demonstrates critical thinking skills to drive to the root cause

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Experience with real-time operating systems such as Green Hills, VxWorks, or CentOS.
• Experience with C++, Python, Visual Basic, Pascal
• Linux
• Experience with Configuration Management and Change Control Tools (such as Git, Bitbucket, ClearCase, Subversion, ClearQuest)
• Experience with Requirement Management tools such as DOORS
• Experience with Agile software development lifecycle
• Experience with emerging AI tools, including prompt engineering and introducing these concepts into existing rigorous safety-critical software development environments
• Experience with DevOps concepts and implementations, especially with Continuous Integration and Continuous Testing aspects
• Experience with Jenkins is a plus
• Experience managing software engineers with a servant leadership mindset