Principal Embedded Software Engineer
Leonardo DRS· Defense· Oct 5, 2026 · 23d ago
Melbourne, FL, US, 32935
In office
Full-time
Principal
$141K–$216K est.
8+ years exp
Job description
Job ID: 114737
Location: Melbourne FL
Schedule: 9/80
The Electro Optical Infrared Systems (EOIS) line of business within DRS has locations in Dallas and Austin, TX, Melbourne, FL, and Cypress, CA. EOIS develops, manufactures, and supports infrared and electro-optical solutions for soldiers, ground vehicles and airborne platforms. We offer an exciting and challenging work environment, a competitive salary and benefits package, and a business culture that rewards performance.
Employing the world’s brightest. Supporting the world’s bravest.
Job Summary
The Principal Embedded Software Engineer serves as a technical leader responsible for defining software architecture, leading execution of complex embedded software projects, and driving technical decisions across multiple disciplines. This role combines deep hands-on technical expertise with project leadership responsibilities. The individual is expected to function as an individual contributor while also leading small software teams, coordinating technical execution, assigning work, monitoring progress, managing technical risks, and communicating project status to engineering and program leadership. The Principal Engineer is recognized as a subject matter expert and is responsible for ensuring successful technical execution of critical business and customer programs.
Job Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
• Define software architectures for complex embedded systems and mission-critical products.
• Lead technical strategy, design reviews, and architectural decisions.
• Serve as the technical authority for software development activities.
• Drive technical solutions involving processors, FPGAs, sensors, imaging systems, networking, and embedded platforms.
• Evaluate technologies, tools, frameworks, and development approaches.
• Lead root-cause investigations for complex system-level issues.
Project Leadership
• Lead small software development teams while remaining an active contributor.
• Translate program objectives into executable software development plans.
• Break down project work into tasks and assign responsibilities across team members.
• Track execution against schedules, milestones, and technical deliverables.
• Identify, communicate, and mitigate technical and program risks.
• Coordinate software activities across systems, hardware, FPGA, verification, manufacturing, and program teams.
• Provide regular project status, risks, and recovery plans to engineering management and program leadership.
• Support staffing, workload balancing, and technical mentoring activities.
Individual Contributor Responsibilities
• Develop, integrate, debug, and verify embedded software.
• Perform code reviews and maintain software quality standards.
• Support customer demonstrations, field activities, integration events, and technical reviews.
• Contribute directly to critical project deliverables when needed.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of embedded software development experience.
• Expert-level proficiency in C and C++.
• Strong Python development experience.
• Extensive experience with Bare-Metal, FreeRTOS, and Embedded Linux environments.
• Extensive experience with AMD/Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC and/or MicroBlaze platforms.
• Strong understanding of embedded software architecture, real-time systems, and hardware/software co-design.
• Experience developing complex device drivers and middleware components.
• Experience leading software development efforts through the full product lifecycle.
• Demonstrated ability to lead small engineering teams while remaining a hands-on contributor.
• Experience developing project schedules, assigning technical work, and tracking execution.
• Experience presenting technical status, risks, and recommendations to management and stakeholders.
• Strong technical decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience leading embedded software efforts for defense, aerospace, medical, or safety-critical products.
• Experience with EO/IR imaging systems, video processing, sensor integration, and high-speed interfaces.
• Experience with Ethernet, TCP/IP, lwIP, networking protocols, and distributed embedded systems.
• Experience with requirements-based development and formal verification methodologies.
• Experience supporting proposal activities, technical planning, and technology roadmaps.
• Experience serving as a technical lead, team lead, or project lead on multi-disciplinary engineering
U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.
Taking care of our people is a top priority at Leonardo DRS. We are proud to offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company contribution to a health savings account, telemedicine, life and disability insurance, legal insurance, and a 401(k) savings plan. We champion wellness programs that focus on physical, emotional, and financial well-being. We develop our talent by offering programs and activities to support career-growth, professional development, and skill enhancement. And we understand there is more to life than work, and the importance of offering flexible work schedules with our 9/80 program, competitive vacation, health/emergency leave, paid parental leave, and community service hours.
*Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only
Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
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Keywords to mirror
python
- Platform
- successfactors
- Effort
- medium
Benefits
Benefits detected in the listing.
Dental
Vision
401(K)
Parental Leave
Wellness
Professional Development