Head of Engineering - Software Development #0209 in Atlanta

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Job DescriptionJob Description

Our client is a forward-thinking aerospace security technology firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in cutting-edge drone detection and countermeasure solutions. They create sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine vision systems for aviation security and risk management, primarily supporting military and federal government organizations. Currently comprising around 30 team members, they are positioned for significant expansion and require robust technical leadership to support this growth trajectory.

We seek a seasoned Head of Engineering - Software Development to establish, mentor, and oversee expanding technical teams throughout the United States and European markets. This represents an exceptional chance to influence the technological roadmap of an advanced defense solutions provider during a transformative scaling period.

In this capacity as Head of Engineering, you will take ownership of building leadership frameworks, defining technical strategy, establishing operational procedures, and ensuring successful delivery across software development and artificial intelligence initiatives. Though your foundation will be extensively technical, this position emphasizes management responsibilities, strategic oversight, technical decision authority, and talent development over individual programming contributions. You will have direct reporting relationships with the Managing Director and collaborate extensively with the CEO to ensure technical initiatives support broader business goals.

This position provides the chance to direct technical innovation for solutions that actively support defense and aviation safety, establish and grow technical teams during a crucial expansion period, operate at the convergence of artificial intelligence, machine vision, and defense systems, and define engineering practices, workflows, and technical benchmarks from inception while overseeing geographically distributed teams across the U.S. and Europe.

Requirements

Essential Requirements

• Strong technical leadership background with hands-on software engineering expertise
• U.S. Citizenship required (due to ITAR restrictions and government contract work)
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills (both technical and non-technical)
• Prior DoD or defense contractor project management experience (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, or similar)
• Deep understanding of Agile and DevOps practices
• Local to Atlanta or willing to relocate to the Atlanta metropolitan area
• 10+ years of software engineering experience in regulated industries (defense, aviation, aerospace, or similar highly-regulated sectors)
• Proven experience scaling and leading small engineering teams through growth phases
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related technical field

Qualifications

• Background in hardware-software integration and hardware interfacing
• Experience with AI-driven defense applications
• German skills (a plus but not required)
• Knowledge of defense contracting and government compliance requirements
• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science or related field
• Experience with computer vision or autonomous systems
• Familiarity with international and distributed engineering teams

Benefits

• Base Salary: $180,000 - $200,000 (depending on experience and qualifications)
• Health insurance reimbursement through QSEHRA
• Mission-driven work supporting security and public safety
• Paid parental leave
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution (employer match on benefits roadmap)
• Collaborative startup culture with a highly technical team
• Unlimited PTO – flexible time off to support work-life balance
• Professional development opportunities as the company scales

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to , skin , , , , , expression, , , protected veteran status, , genetic information, or any other legally protected status.

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