Engineering Manager, Avionics Software

CMC Electronics (CMC) has earned an international reputation for innovation and excellence in the design, manufacturing and support of electronic products for the aviation markets. CMC is focused on delivering innovative cockpit and avionics system integration solutions to commercial and military customers worldwide.

Its principal facilities are located in Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario; Chicago, Illinois and our newest site in Reston, Virginia. CMC is a major supplier to the aerospace and high-technology industries, airlines, military agencies and government customers worldwide.

As we build a new team in Reston, VA, we're looking for engineers and technologists ready to be pioneers in the application of emerging tools and techniques, maintaining the highest reliability demanded by aerospace while bringing forth new products and capabilities at a brisk pace.

This is an onsite position in our Reston, VA office location. To conform to U.S. export control regulations, applicant should be eligible for any required authorization from the U.S. Government.

Why join our team?

As Engineering Manager, Avionics Software, you'll take on a flagship leadership role: growing and developing a software engineering team, shaping development processes, and driving compliance with regulated avionics practices.

This role is built for an experienced avionics software leader with deep expertise in embedded software development and certification, particularly DO-178B/C and related airborne lifecycle standards. You'll work closely with Project Engineers, Chief Engineers, Program Management, and Quality/Compliance teams, giving you visibility and impact across the business.

Beyond day-to-day management, this is a genuine growth opportunity — build a team, sharpen your technical leadership, and see your work fly in certified avionics products trusted in demanding commercial and military aviation environments.

As an Engineering Manager, your key responsibilities include:

Software Team Leadership

• Build, lead, and grow the avionics software engineering team at the Reston site.
• Recruit, hire, coach, and retain high-performing engineers to meet current and future program needs.
• Provide performance feedback, career development, and prioritization guidance.
• Build technical depth through succession planning, cross-training, and targeted development.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, and disciplined engineering execution.

DO-178 Software Capability and Certification Readiness

• Strengthen the team's ability to execute compliant avionics software development under DO-178B/C and related certification standards.
• Ensure work follows regulatory, airworthiness, quality, and company process requirements.
• Partner with Quality and Compliance on process adherence, audit readiness, SOI reviews, and certification activities.
• Coach staff on requirements, design, implementation, verification, traceability, configuration management, and change control.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to process, training, tooling, staffing, and certification readiness.

Resource Planning, Estimating, and Capability Management

• Develop and maintain resource plans for the software engineering team.
• Allocate resources across projects based on priorities and demand-versus-capacity tradeoffs.
• Align staffing with Project Engineers and Program Management to support schedules, bids, proposals, and program commitments.
• Contribute to, review, and approve engineering estimates, including personnel, tools, and materials.
• Ground staffing plans and proposal inputs in realistic assumptions for certified avionics software work.

Engineering Process, Tools, and Cross-Functional Coordination

• Maintain and improve engineering processes, tools, and standards used by the team.
• Support effective use of development, verification, requirements, and configuration management tools.
• Coordinate with Project Engineers, Chief Engineers, Program Management, and Quality/Compliance.
• Represent the software engineering organization in planning, process, and modernization initiatives.
• Drive practical improvements to quality, predictability, and productivity

How to excel in this role (job requirements):

• Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent; a Master's degree in a related discipline is an asset. 
• Minimum of ten (10) years of software engineering experience in commercial and/or military avionics, aviation electronics, or comparable safety-critical embedded systems.
• Significant embedded real-time software development experience — including requirements, design, implementation, verification, integration, debugging, configuration management, and change control — with sufficient depth to coach engineers, review plans and estimates, assess risks, and support problem resolution.
• Experience leading, supervising, or managing software engineering teams, preferably in a regulated avionics or safety-critical environment.
• Strong, practical experience with DO-178B/C airborne software development and certification lifecycles is required, including planning, traceability, quality assurance, and certification evidence expectations.
• Experience supporting certification audits, SOI reviews, customer reviews, or airworthiness authority interactions.
• Strong knowledge of airworthiness certification processes for military and/or commercial aircraft.
• Experience contributing to estimates, resource plans, staffing plans, and proposal inputs for certified software development programs.

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What sets you apart (preferred qualifications):

• Deep experience with DO-178C, especially DAL A or DAL B software development and verification, along with related supplements and standards such as DO-330, DO-331, DO-332, DO-333, DO-254, ARP4754A, and ARP4761.
• Experience with Flight Management Systems, GNSS, navigation, cockpit avionics, mission avionics, or other certified airborne software products.
• Experience with TSO-C115, DO-187 MOPS, or other aviation minimum performance standards.  Experience with partitioned embedded real-time software, ARINC-653 compliant RTOS environments, and Integrated Modular Avionics concepts.
• Familiarity with RTCA DO-297, FACE, open software platforms, ARINC-429, ARINC-664, and aircraft data network standards.
• Experience building a team, standing up a new capability, or scaling an engineering organization.
• Experience supporting civil and/or military certification programs through major milestones and customer reviews.

What we offer: 

• Fast paced environment with significant autonomy
• ¨Start up¨ work environment in a well-established organization
• 401K Match Program
• BCBS Medical, HSA with Company contribution, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability Insurance, commuter benefits, and education reimbursement
• PTO Plan

At CMC, we pride ourselves on delivering a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent.  Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and providing eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors.

Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.  

Summary pay range: $150,000 - $195,000

Equal Employment Opportunity

CMC Electronics is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. CMC Electronics is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job related reasons regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law ("Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/VEVRAA Federal Contractor”).