Engineer III

Job Summary

General Atomics (GA), and its affiliated companies, is one of the world's leading resources for high-technology systems development ranging from the nuclear fuel cycle to remotely piloted aircraft, airborne sensors, and advanced electric, electronic, wireless and laser technologies.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS' expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions support critical fleet, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and process and monitoring applications for defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Software Engineer to join our Instrumentation and Controls group in Rancho Bernardo, specializing in Engineering Control GUIs and Data Systems. We are seeking someone with drive, talent, and experience in designing robust, maintainable C# applications to support control systems and data acquisition efforts. This role focuses on Engineering GUIs, that enable test, diagnostics, and system control. The successful candidate will report to the Instrumentation and Controls Manager and work closely with embedded and controls engineers, while engaging in hands-on interaction with hardware and lab equipment. This position will support the development and enhancement of advanced systems, including high-power electromagnetic devices, power conditioning systems, pulsed-power technologies, high-energy lasers, space-based platforms, and other innovations in the expanding GA-EMS portfolio.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supports the development and operation of engineering control GUIs and data acquisition systems by evaluating and interpreting project needs and technical challenges, develops effective software solutions to address those requirements.
• Troubleshoots and resolves issues related to engineering GUIs, collaborating with embedded engineers and data generation equipment teams to address system-level challenges while adhering to best software development practices.
• Creates and maintains documentation and delivers technical presentations as needed to support project objectives.
• Provides guidance to designers, technicians, and may mentor less experienced software engineers in the development of tools and systems.
• Represents the team in resolving technical challenges and delivering software solutions for specific projects.
• Ensures the confidentiality of sensitive information related to systems, tools, and workflows.
• Performs other duties as required to support the instrumentation and controls group.
• Adheres to all applicable laws, regulations, and obligations while conducting business on behalf of the company. Expected to follow established safety procedures and practices in all work environments.
• We operate on a 9x80 schedule with every other Friday off

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications

• Typically requires a bachelor's, master's, or PhD in Software, Computer, Electrical, or a related engineering discipline from an accredited institution, and four or more years of experience with a bachelor's degree, or two or more years with a master's degree.
• Demonstrated proficiency in object-oriented programming (OOP) with strong software design and development fundamentals.
• Broad application of software development concepts and expanding knowledge of principles, theory, and practices in related technical specialties.
• Proficiency in C# development and familiarity with common design patterns.
• Ability to quickly understand new concepts and apply them accurately in an evolving technical environment.
• Strong organizational, scheduling, and coordination skills for managing software development phases.
• Ability to determine the appropriate task-level approach independently or with assistance at the project level to solve complex software and integration problems.
• Excellent communication, documentation, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional engineering team.
• Skilled in performing complex software tasks within one engineering area and capable of mentoring or guiding less experienced professionals on semi-routine tasks.
• Sporadic extended hours may be necessary as project needs dictate.
• Must be customer focused
• Active Top Secret security clearance is required

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with WPF or similar desktop application frameworks.
• Familiarity with C++
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as Serial (RS-232/RS-485), Modbus, CAN, TCP, UDP, and HTTP, with exposure to structured data formats (e.g., JSON, XML).
• Familiarity with data parsing and packet construction for interface communication.
• Familiarity with Hardware Abstraction Layers (HAL) or structured software-to-hardware interfaces.
• Familiarity with developing applications with database connectivity (e.g., SQLite, SQL Server, or similar) for test data logging.