Principal SW Engineer – Datalinks, CNI, Sensor Integration

Principal SW Engineer – Datalinks, CNI, Sensor Integration

Location:

Fort Worth, TX or Palmdale, CA.

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

Active Secret Clearance Required to Start

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 Principal Software Engineer – Datalinks, CNI, and Sensor Integration to support the design, development, integration, and test software that supports tactical datalinks, Communications/Navigation/Identification (CNI) systems, and onboard sensor integration within complex avionics architectures. This role offers the opportunity to directly impact operational capability by enabling secure communications, sensor interoperability, and real‑time data exchange across advanced military aviation systems.

This position requires a software engineer to use a wide application of technical principles, theories, and concepts in the software field to develop, integrate, and test software products. The successful candidate will be a member of a high‑performing multi‑site team and must be self‑motivated with a strong work ethic, time‑management, and interpersonal skills. In this role, you will work independently at times on projects, at other times will be in a collaborative team environment with other software engineers, as well as other program development and deployment teams.

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.

• Bachelor's degree in STEM discipline
• 8+ years of C/C++ development experience
• Tactical and mission data link software development (e.g., Link 16, ADS‑B, TDL, IFF, SATCOM)
• Experience developing software integrating Communications, Navigation, and Identification equipment to defense platforms
• Sensor integration experience & SW development
• C/C++ development for real‑time embedded systems
• Integration and interoperability testing in lab and simulated environments
• Ability to work onsite 100%
• Ability to travel 10%

• Proficient with Atlassian Tools (Confluence, JIRA, Bitbucket, etc.)
• Real‑time operating systems and deterministic scheduling
• Networked and distributed systems under bandwidth and latency constraints
• Secure communications and crypto interface awareness (COMSEC)
• Message parsing, data modeling, and protocol implementation
• Mission systems and OMS/MOSA integration
• Experience communicating and documenting complex technical designs
• Ability to work in a collaborative and team‑based environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills

• Low‑cost Medical / Dental / Vision coverage options
• 401K with generous employer match
• Responsible Paid Time Off + 11 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.