Principal Systems Integration & Test Engineer

Job Title: Principal Systems Integration & Test Engineer

Location : Fort Worth, TX & Palmdale, CA

Salary Range: $160,000 - $200,000 + Bonus Eligible

Security Clearance: Active Secret Clearance Required

Work Schedule: Thursday-Sunday (4x10 schedule during normal business hours)

Company Overview

Founded in 2004 with locations in Atlanta, GA, Fort Worth, TX, Denver, CO, & Huntsville, AL, Thompson Software Solutions (TSS) is a mission-driven aerospace and defense software and systems engineering company supporting the U.S. military, defense primes, and commercial space partners. We specialize in the development, integration, test, and deployment of safety & mission-critical software systems that power next-generation aircraft, defense platforms, and space technologies. Our team understands what it takes to modernize complex embedded systems while maintaining the rigor, compliance, and reliability required for mission and safety-critical environments.

As a defense-focused company of highly skilled and dedicated engineers, we take pride in solving complex technical challenges that directly impact national security and operational readiness. We partner closely with customers across the military aviation and space domains to deliver resilient, future-ready solutions with portability, sustainability, and long-term mission success in mind.

Thompson Software Solutions is seeking a Systems Integration & Test Engineer to support the integration, verification, and validation of mission-critical avionics systems for a military aircraft platform.

In this role, you will work in a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) integration laboratory executing system-level test procedures that validate aircraft functionality and software capabilities. You'll work closely with systems, software, and hardware engineers to identify defects, troubleshoot complex integration issues, perform root-cause analysis, and verify software fixes before release.

This is a highly hands-on engineering position where you'll spend the majority of your time in the lab working directly with aircraft hardware, mission computers, avionics equipment, and embedded software. The ideal candidate enjoys solving challenging integration problems and collaborating across engineering disciplines to ensure aircraft capabilities perform as designed.

Work Schedule: Thursday-Sunday (4x10 schedule during normal business hours)

• Selected applicants will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Continued eligibility for access to classified information is required throughout employment, as dictated by program needs.

Basic Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience performing systems integration and testing within aerospace, defense, or other embedded software environments.
• Hands-on experience working in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) or Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL) environments.
• Experience executing system-level integration and verification test procedures.
• Strong troubleshooting skills involving integrated hardware and embedded software.
• Experience identifying, documenting, and tracking software defects.
• Demonstrated ability to perform root-cause analysis on system integration issues.
• Experience validating software functionality against system requirements.
• Familiarity with avionics communication protocols including MIL-STD-1553, ARINC-429, Ethernet, or similar interfaces.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with cross-functional engineering teams.
• Ability to work onsite 100%.
• Ability to travel up to approximately 10%.
• Ability to work a Thursday-Sunday 4x10 schedule during normal business hours.

Preferred / Additional Skills

\Experience supporting military aircraft integration programs.

• Experience testing embedded real-time software.
• Experience with JIRA, Confluence, Bitbucket, or similar engineering tools.
• Experience working in DO-178C or other safety-critical software environments.
• Experience supporting aircraft ground testing, system verification, or flight test activities.
• Familiarity with software configuration management and Agile development processes.

Sound Exciting? Get in touch today! We have very robust benefits including:

• Low-cost Medical / Dental / Vision coverage options
• 401K with generous employer match
• Responsible Paid Time Off + Paid Holidays
• Remote work opportunities based on role
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Career growth and professional development opportunities

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

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