Performance Drone Works
Principal Software Engineer, Manufacturing Systems
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Huntsville, AL
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Principal
- Employment
- Not specified
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Category
- Software engineering
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related technical field.
- 10+ years of professional experience in software engineering, manufacturing automation, robotics, embedded systems, or production test environments, including technical leadership of complex systems.
- Strong proficiency in Python and at least one additional scripting or systems language such as Bash, PowerShell, or C/C++.
- Experience designing scalable automated manufacturing test systems, reusable hardware test frameworks, and hardware-in-the-loop validation infrastructure.
- Deep expertise in Linux-based systems administration, deployment automation, networking, security, system services, and package management in production engineering or manufacturing environments.
- Experience with software configuration management, source control, CI/CD practices, and release management workflows.
- Familiarity with hardware interfaces and communication protocols such as UART, CAN, Ethernet, USB, I2C, SPI, or serial communications.
- Strong understanding of robotics, drones, electromechanical systems, embedded hardware, or autonomous systems.
- Experience troubleshooting integrated hardware/software systems in fast-paced production environments.
- Proficiency with data serialization and transport technologies such as JSON, Protobuf, REST interfaces, or similar frameworks.
- Ability to interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation.
Nice to have
- Experience developing production or engineering tools using Qt Framework or Python Qt bindings (PyQt/PySide).
- Experience with automated test equipment, instrumentation, hardware validation systems.
- Familiarity supporting manufacturing execution systems (MES), ERP integrations, or production traceability systems in HV production.
- Experience supporting products operating under quality management systems in robotics, automotive, or other regulated industries in medium to high-volume production.
- Familiarity with containerization, virtualization, or infrastructure automation technologies to optimize resources, application deployments and updates.
- Experience with PLCs and industrial communication control systems protocols (i.e.: OPC UA, SCADA).
- Candidates with experience in sUAV, robotics development, and/or hobby drones.
Full description
What You’ll Do
- Lead the design, implementation, deployment, and sustainment of manufacturing test software systems supporting assembly, integration, calibration, and final system validation in production.
- Architect scalable software frameworks for automated production test fixtures, diagnostics, telemetry collection, and hardware validation workflows.
- Own software configuration management, deployment pipelines, version control, and release processes for manufacturing and production environments.
- Develop robust automation tools and scripts using Python, Bash, PowerShell, or similar technologies to streamline production operations and reduce operator error.
- Design and maintain Linux-based manufacturing systems including user management, permissions, networking, package management, and system hardening.
- Partner with electrical, firmware, and mechanical engineering teams to integrate software with embedded systems, sensors, robotics hardware, and test instrumentation.
- Drive root-cause analysis investigations related to manufacturing defects, test failures, production escapes, and system reliability issues.
- Establish software validation methodologies to ensure production systems meet product requirements, configuration control, quality standards, and operational readiness criteria.
- Improve manufacturing throughput, test coverage, traceability, and process repeatability through automation and data-driven decision making.
- Develop tools and infrastructure for data collection, serialization, logging, and transport across manufacturing and test systems to track ‘as built’ FW/SW configuration.
- Mentor junior engineers and manufacturing personnel on software best practices, debugging methodologies, and test system operation.
- Contribute to long-term manufacturing software strategy, tooling standardization, and production scalability initiatives.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with production, quality, supply chain, field operations, and product engineering teams to improve system reliability and operational efficiency.
- Support deployment, troubleshooting, training, and sustainment activities across manufacturing and operational environments as needed, leveraging Admin/IT support.
- Partner with product engineering teams to improve design-for-manufacturability throughout the product lifecycle.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or related technical field.
- 10+ years of professional experience in software engineering, manufacturing automation, robotics, embedded systems, or production test environments, including technical leadership of complex systems.
- Strong proficiency in Python and at least one additional scripting or systems language such as Bash, PowerShell, or C/C++.