Principal Program Manager

Job Title: Principal Program Manager

Location: Remote / Onsite - US

Salary Range: $140,000 – $185,000 + Bonus Eligible

Reports to: VP of Program Execution

Who we are: Thompson Software Solutions LLC. is a subsidiary of Lynx. Lynx delivers modular, open standards-based software solutions that redefine the economics of developing, deploying, and maintaining high assurance, mission critical edge platforms. These secure edge computing solutions are designed to drive innovation and operational excellence in today’s most demanding environments. From advancing aerospace and defense capabilities to transforming commercial and industrial systems, Lynx collaborates across a wide range of industries, including automotive, medical, and critical

We’re a fast-growing company driving innovation in autonomy, AI, and visualization technologies. If you're a self-driven leader ready to shape the future of secure, high-assurance systems, we want to hear from you.

Company Overview

Founded in 2004 with locations in Atlanta, GA and Fort Worth, TX, Thompson Software Solutions LLC. team understands what is required to develop, integrate, test, and deploy software with a safety-critical pedigree while meeting the challenges of modernization and digital transformation. As a defense-focused software company of proven and dedicated employees, we take pride in our ability to react quickly and produce quality solutions to difficult technical challenges. We work with partners to find the right path to meet operational needs while future-proofing systems with portability and sustainment considerations to ensure next-generation success.  

Description

Thompson Software Solutions is seeking a Principal Program Manager who is ready to work with a talented team to provide innovative solutions for tomorrow’s problems. 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 subjected to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information and must maintain eligibility for continued access to classified information throughout their employment as required by the job.

• Lead delivery of multiple cross-functional projects, including customer-driven, partnership, and internal initiatives.
• Support project estimation, proposal development, and milestone planning.
• Launch and manage project teams, ensuring clear understanding of goals, constraints, and timelines.
• Coordinate distributed teams working on embedded software and hardware for defense, aerospace, automotive, and industrial markets.
• Apply AS9100-certified processes and independent judgment to drive results.
• Identify and mitigate risks, resolve cross-functional issues, and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Conduct project reviews and maintain dashboards to monitor health and progress.
• Drive process and tool improvements to support operational excellence and innovation.
• Lead onsite engineering teams and manage cost, schedule, and technical execution.
• Use Earned Value Management (EVM) to track and manage project performance.
• Provide regular customer and leadership updates and ensure technical coordination.
• Travel up to 25% required.
• Perform additional job duties as assigned.

• Engineering BS degree, preferably in Electrical, Computers, or Systems; or equivalent technical experience.
• 5+ years of software development experience
• Exceptional organizational, communication, collaboration, persuasion, team building, and other interpersonal skills.
• At least 7 years' experience in project management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially for customer-facing and regulatory documentation.
• Strong sense of accountability and ownership.  Diligent, tenacious, high integrity, and strong work ethic.
• Able to quickly learn business and who to go to for which problems.  Politically savvy, but not self-serving.
• Ability to professionally communicate project status and collaborate on technical solutions with external customers and peers
• Proficient with Atlassian Tools (Confluence, JIRA, Bitbucket, etc.)
• Prior Experience using Agile Software Methodologies
• Experience in software development and integrations programs
• Scrum Master experience
• Clearance eligibility required

Desired Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in embedded software development for safety-critical aerospace systems Application.
• Skilled in managing geographically distributed engineering teams across complex, matrixed aerospace programs.
• Expertise in Statements of Work, capacity planning, client engagement, scheduling, and risk management within regulated environments.
• Experience leading teams through waterfall and agile development processes; Scrum Master certification is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office tools (Visio, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Project) and Jira.
• Familiarity with professional services automation platforms (e.g., Salesforce, SAP S/4Hana).
• Background in graphics and compute frameworks (OpenGL SC, Vulkan) used in avionics and visualization systems.
• Strong understanding of real-time operating systems, software development standards, and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).
• Experience applying Six Sigma, Lean principles, and Objectives & Key Results (OKRs) in aerospace programs.
• Deep knowledge of DO-178C certification, avionics software lifecycle, and Defense & Aerospace market requirements.
• Exposure to Automotive Functional Safety (ISO 26262) is a plus for cross-industry applications.
• Advanced certifications in project/program management (PMP, PgMP, CSM, PMI-ACP).
• Master's degree in engineering or business preferred.
• Experience as a Product Owner or in product management for aerospace systems.
• Skilled in requirements generation, technical documentation, and stakeholder communication.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially for customer-facing and regulatory documentation.

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 + 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.