Software Operations Support Engineer

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

Summary

AeroVironment (AV) is seeking a technically skilled and customer-focused Software Operations Support Engineer to support the deployment, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of ARGUS, our advanced wireless Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS). ARGUS is deployed at customer facilities to provide reliable perimeter security and intrusion detection capabilities for critical infrastructure, defense, and commercial applications.

The Software Operations Support Engineer will be responsible for ensuring the continued reliable operation of ARGUS software systems deployed at customer sites, including Linux-based servers, cloud-hosted infrastructure, databases, and custom software applications. This position will provide remote technical support, perform software installations and updates, diagnose and resolve operational issues, and work closely with software engineering, systems engineering, field service personnel, and customers to maintain system availability and performance.

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in Linux system administration, software troubleshooting, networking, and database technologies, along with practical experience diagnosing issues in applications developed using Java, Python, Bash, and related technologies. This position requires strong analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to independently investigate and resolve technical issues in deployed production environments.

Citizenship & Clearance

- We can only accept applicants that are US Citizens.
- Must be willing and able to obtain a security clearance if needed.

Position Responsibilities

- Software Operations & Maintenance: Provide ongoing remote operational support for deployed ARGUS systems, including Linux-based servers, cloud-hosted infrastructure, databases, and application software. Monitor system health, investigate performance or availability issues, and perform preventive and corrective maintenance to ensure reliable system operation.
- Software Installation & Deployment: Install, configure, upgrade, and validate ARGUS software on new and existing customer systems. Perform software updates, patches, configuration changes, and migrations while minimizing disruption to customer operations and maintaining appropriate version and configuration control.
- Technical Troubleshooting & Issue Resolution: Diagnose and resolve issues involving Linux operating systems, application services, databases, network connectivity, software configuration, and custom applications developed in Java, Python, Bash, and other technologies. Analyze system logs, application logs, database behavior, and diagnostic information to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
- Customer Technical Support: Serve as a technical point of contact for software-related operational issues at deployed customer sites. Respond to support requests, assess issue severity, communicate troubleshooting progress, and coordinate with customers, field service personnel, and internal engineering teams to resolve issues in accordance with contractual support commitments.
- System Administration & Security: Administer Linux-based systems, including user accounts, permissions, services, system resources, network configurations, and software dependencies. Support secure remote access, system hardening, security patching, backups, and recovery procedures in coordination with applicable cybersecurity requirements and policies.
- Database & Application Support: Investigate database connectivity, configuration, performance, and data integrity issues. Troubleshoot interactions between application services, databases, and cloud-based components, and perform appropriate database administration and maintenance activities.
- Engineering Collaboration & Continuous Improvement: Work closely with software developers and other engineering disciplines to investigate complex software defects, reproduce operational issues, identify root causes, and validate corrective actions. Recommend and implement improvements to deployment processes, diagnostic tools, monitoring capabilities, and support procedures.
- Documentation & Operational Readiness: Develop and maintain technical documentation, installation instructions, troubleshooting guides, maintenance procedures, system configuration records, and support knowledge bases. Document support activities, technical findings, corrective actions, and recurring issues to improve support efficiency and product reliability.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
- 3+ years of professional experience in software technical support, Linux system administration, application operations, DevOps, systems engineering, or a closely related technical role.
- Strong hands-on experience administering and troubleshooting Linux-based systems, including command-line tools, system services, processes, file systems, permissions, networking, package management, and log analysis.
- Working knowledge of software development and scripting, including the ability to read, understand, troubleshoot, and make limited modifications to applications or scripts written in Python, Java, and Bash.
- Experience installing, configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting software applications and their dependencies in production or customer-deployed environments.
- Familiarity with relational databases and SQL, including the ability to investigate database connectivity, queries, performance, and application/database interactions.
- Understanding of TCP/IP networking, DNS, firewalls, VPNs, SSH, and other technologies commonly used to support distributed software systems and secure remote access.
- Strong analytical, troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills, with the ability to independently resolve technical issues and work effectively with customers and multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Other Qualification & Desired Competencies