Software Development Manager

Software Development Manager

At ThinKom, we design high-performance, next-generation mechanical systems that connect the world across air, land, sea, and space. From Inflight Connectivity (IFC) to High-Power Microwave (HPM) systems to Defense SATCOM, our technology operates in some of the world's most demanding environments.

ThinKom designs high-performance antenna systems for commercial in-flight connectivity, ground stations and gateway arrays, land-mobile terminals, and special-mission aircraft. Our products operate in demanding environments where reliable software and integration with RF, controls, and hardware are essential.

We're looking for a Software Development Manager who will guide embedded software development for Linux-based applications running on RF system-on-chip (RFSoC) platforms and interfacing with FPGA logic. You will manage delivery across multiple programs and bring the technical judgment to guide architecture, evaluate code quality, and build realistic development plans. You will own the software roadmap and use program performance and workload forecasts to determine staffing needs. You will work with senior and principal engineers, FPGA developers, and hardware teams to resolve integration risks. You must be able to review code and contribute directly to development or debugging when needed.

What You'll Do

• Software Delivery: Own software engineering execution across assigned programs. Set priorities, assign work, manage dependencies, and maintain clear commitments for scope, resources, and delivery dates.
• Architecture and Technical Reviews: Guide embedded Linux software architecture with senior and principal engineers. Evaluate software interfaces to RFSoC and FPGA hardware, including timing, data throughput, and resource constraints. Challenge assumptions and ensure decisions are documented and consistent with system requirements.
• People Management: Meet regularly with staff to provide coaching, assess performance, and support development. Recruit and onboard engineers, and address performance or capability gaps.
• Engineering Direction: Contribute to software engineering policies and technical roadmaps. Promote reusable designs and consistent practices across programs where appropriate.
• Code Quality and Developer Testing: Establish and enforce standards for code reviews, unit and integration testing, continuous integration, and release quality gates. Participate in reviews and hold engineers accountable for resolving findings.
• Requirements and Integration: Work with Systems, RF, Controls, FPGA, and hardware engineering to define software requirements and hardware/software interfaces. Coordinate software and FPGA development dependencies, integration sequencing, and interface changes before committing the team.
• Progress and Risk Reporting: Use delivery milestones, defect trends, test results, and other meaningful measures to communicate progress. Identify blockers early, develop recovery plans, and escalate risks with recommended actions.
• Team Development: Build a culture of first-principles thinking, ownership, and continuous learning. Encourage engineers to support technical claims and estimates with evidence.
• Development Planning: Build plans from defined requirements and decomposed engineering tasks. Challenge estimates against technical complexity, software and FPGA dependencies, team capacity, and uncertainty; use prototypes or investigations to resolve major unknowns.
• Verification and Release Coordination: Develop schedules with program management and Integration, Verification, and Validation (IVV). Include time for hardware availability, integration, verification, defect resolution, and release preparation.
• Technical Problem Solving: Guide debugging across embedded Linux applications, hardware interfaces, and FPGA interactions. Review code and operational data, isolate root causes with RF and hardware teams, and contribute directly when needed to resolve difficult issues.
• Roadmap Planning: Own and maintain the software development roadmap, aligning program commitments, product priorities, and architecture improvements with technical dependencies and available resources. Recommend priorities and sequencing based on delivery needs and engineering capacity.
• Earned Value Management: Work with program management to establish and maintain software scope, schedule, and cost baselines. Track earned value, investigate schedule and cost variances, and update estimates to complete. Use these findings to recommend corrective actions and changes to resource allocation.
• Staffing and Capacity Planning: Forecast staffing and skill needs based on the roadmap, program workload, delivery performance, and remaining effort. Identify capacity gaps and recommend hiring, contractor support, training, or reassignment of engineers, with clear cost and schedule tradeoffs.

What You'll Bring

Must-Haves:

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent industry experience).
• Experience: 3+ years of experience managing software engineering projects or teams, including setting priorities, developing schedules, and coordinating cross-functional delivery.
• Embedded Software: Substantial hands-on experience designing, developing, testing, and debugging production embedded software on Linux.
• Engineering Leadership: Proven ability to guide software architecture, conduct code reviews, evaluate technical tradeoffs, and assess implementation quality.
• Software Development Lifecycle & Testing: Proficiency with source control, code review, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and software configuration/release management. Experience developing software test plans and procedures, aligning developer testing with system-level integration and verification. And experience applying Agile development practices (sprint planning, retrospectives) and adapting them to program milestones and engineering dependencies.
• Program Management & Planning: Proven track record defining software requirements/interfaces, resolving scope issues, and managing change with program stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to build credible estimates/plans, account for integration and test, and adapt schedules to emerging risks. Strong organizational skills to balance competing priorities across multiple programs.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Experience coaching engineers, delivering performance feedback, and fostering technical growth within a team.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical tradeoffs, schedule risks, and recovery options to stakeholders. Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with internal peers, suppliers, and customers, including presenting in design reviews.
• Problem-Solving: Strong reasoning skills, including decomposing complex problems and challenging unsupported assumptions.
• Security Requirement: Must be eligible to obtain and hold a US DoD Security Clearance in support of US Government contracts/subcontracts.

Nice-to-Haves (Preferred Experience):

• Experience developing embedded/Linux software integrated with physical hardware, network interfaces, or third-party equipment.
• Background in satellite communications, antenna systems, controls, or complex hardware/software products.
• Experience with automated regression testing, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing, and root-cause analysis of field/operational anomalies.
• Familiarity with RFSoC architectures and FPGA development workflows, including software/programmable logic integration.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Ability to travel up to 5% of the time.
• This position uses a computer terminal to access, input, and retrieve data.
• This position may be subject to interruptions that may cause a change in immediate priorities and/or work focus.
• While performing duties to this position, employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, reach, and/or bend.
• May occasionally lift and/or move parts, files or boxes up to 40 pounds.
• May be subjected to occasional irregular or extended work hours.
• May be required to sit for extended lengths of time.
• Must be able to work in an environment that may be subjected to occasional loud noises, hazardous materials and chemicals.

Why Join ThinKom?

At ThinKom, you'll work on innovative technologies that connect people around the world. Our engineers are empowered to solve meaningful technical challenges, collaborate with industry experts, and contribute to products that make a real impact. We value innovation, teamwork, technical excellence, and continuous learning while providing an environment where engineers can grow their careers and influence the future of advanced communications technology.

We foster a collaborative culture that values innovation, technical excellence, continuous learning, and professional growth. If you're looking for an opportunity to solve complex engineering challenges while helping shape the future of advanced antenna and electromagnetic technologies, we encourage you to apply.

Salary Range - $140,000 - $200,000

ThinKom offer generous benefits including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life, 401k Matching (4%), PTO, paid Holidays and Bonus Plan

ThinKom Solutions is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

ThinKom Solutions is a Drug and Alcohol free working environment with a zero-tolerance policy