Senior Manager, Software Engineering

Simmonds Precision•Vergennes, VT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Simmonds Precision is seeking a Senior Manager, Software Engineering to lead its software engineering organization at its Vergennes, Vermont facility. The role provides strategic direction and hands-on technical leadership to engineers developing, integrating, and verifying complex, safety-critical embedded software for aerospace applications. The position is responsible for ensuring software meets performance, quality, certification, and customer requirements in a highly regulated environment. The Senior Manager leads and develops engineering talent, directs software development across its full lifecycle, and oversees certification and regulatory compliance, including applicable RTCA DO-178C and Design Assurance Level requirements. The role also manages execution across multiple programs, works closely with cross-functional teams and stakeholders, and drives engineering strategy and continuous improvement. This position requires working 100% on-site in Vergennes, Vermont. U.S. citizenship is required due to applicable government security clearance requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
At least 10 years of progressive software engineering experience, including significant experience developing safety-critical embedded software in aerospace, avionics, defense, or similarly regulated industries.
At least 5 years of demonstrated leadership experience managing software engineering teams, technical organizations, or complex embedded software development programs.
Strong working knowledge of RTCA DO-178C, software certification processes, and Design Assurance Level requirements.
Demonstrated experience leading software development activities for safety-critical or mission-critical applications.
Technical proficiency in embedded software development using C, Ada, or similar programming languages in real-time operating systems (RTOS) or bare-metal environments.
Strong understanding of embedded software architecture, hardware-software integration, and avionics communication protocols such as ARINC 429, MIL-STD-1553, or CAN bus.
Proven ability to manage multiple engineering projects, establish priorities, allocate resources, and deliver results within schedule and budget requirements.
Demonstrated success building, coaching, and developing technical teams while driving accountability and performance.
Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to engage technical teams, cross-functional partners, customers, and executive leadership.
Strong interpersonal skills, sound judgment, and a collaborative leadership approach.
U.S. citizenship is required due to applicable government security clearance requirements.
Must work 100% on-site at the Vergennes, Vermont facility.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
Experience leading software development and certification activities for DO-178C DAL A or DAL B applications.
Experience modernizing legacy embedded software systems or transitioning to model-based development and automated verification methodologies.
Familiarity with model-based design tools, automated testing frameworks, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), and software development tool qualification.
Experience with aerospace systems integration, certification audits, and customer or regulatory authority technical reviews.
Demonstrated success implementing engineering process improvements that increase efficiency, improve product quality, or accelerate development timelines.
Experience supporting both new product development and sustainment of established aerospace platforms.
Experience developing long-term engineering strategies, technical roadmaps, and organizational capability plans.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing software engineering team, fostering technical excellence, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Set strategic direction and provide day-to-day leadership, aligning engineering resources and priorities with business objectives and program commitments.
Oversee workforce planning, talent acquisition, performance management, succession planning, and professional development.
Build organizational capability, strengthen technical expertise and team effectiveness, and develop future engineering leaders.
Establish performance expectations and promote ownership, innovation, and results across the software engineering organization.
Provide technical leadership across the software development lifecycle, from requirements and architecture through design, implementation, integration, verification, and certification support.
Oversee development of reliable, high-integrity, real-time embedded software for safety-critical airborne systems.
Partner with software architects, systems engineers, and technical leaders to establish scalable, maintainable, and robust software architectures.
Guide technical decisions, design reviews, troubleshooting, and resolution of complex software and system-level challenges.
Promote requirements traceability, configuration management, software verification, and disciplined change control.
Ensure software development and verification comply with applicable aerospace standards, including RTCA DO-178C and associated Design Assurance Level requirements.
Lead and oversee software certification planning, documentation, verification, and compliance activities.
Collaborate with quality assurance, systems engineering, and certification teams to maintain software integrity and support airworthiness objectives.
Identify and mitigate technical, quality, and compliance risks throughout the development lifecycle.
Promote a quality-first engineering culture focused on product safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
Direct software engineering execution across multiple programs to meet technical requirements, schedules, budgets, and quality expectations.
Develop resource plans, establish priorities, monitor engineering milestones, and address program risks and constraints.
Partner with program management, hardware engineering, systems engineering, manufacturing, and quality teams to integrate and deliver complex aerospace systems.
Serve as a technical and organizational interface with internal stakeholders, customers, and external partners.
Communicate engineering progress, technical challenges, resource needs, and mitigation strategies to senior leadership and program stakeholders.
Balance competing priorities while maintaining focus on customer commitments, engineering quality, and operational performance.
Drive continuous improvement to enhance software development efficiency, engineering productivity, and product quality.
Evaluate and implement methodologies, tools, and technologies that support development, verification, and certification objectives.
Advance automated testing, continuous integration, model-based development, and improved software development workflows.
Establish and monitor engineering performance metrics, including schedule performance, defect trends, verification progress, and resource utilization.
Develop and standardize engineering processes to strengthen consistency, scalability, and long-term organizational effectiveness.
Partner with senior engineering leadership on technology roadmaps, engineering capabilities, and future product development strategies.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
HSA and FSA options.
Onsite cafeteria and fitness center.
Competitive pay and an annual bonus opportunity.
401(k) retirement plan with up to a 4% company match plus an additional annual employer contribution starting at 3%.
Company-paid life and disability insurance.
Four weeks of vacation, five additional paid days during the annual holiday shutdown, and paid sick leave.
Paid maternity and paternity leave.
Up to $20,000 in annual tuition reimbursement.
Professional development and learning opportunities.
Supplemental insurance, an Employee Assistance Program, legal services, identity theft protection, discounted auto and home insurance, and pet insurance.