Principal Software Engineer, Manufacturing Systems

PDW • Huntsville, AL

164d

About The Position

The Principal Software Engineer, Manufacturing Systems leads the design, implementation, deployment, and sustainment of manufacturing test software that supports assembly, integration, calibration, and final system validation in production. The role architects scalable frameworks for automated production test fixtures, diagnostics, telemetry collection, and hardware validation workflows, and owns configuration management, deployment pipelines, version control, and release processes for manufacturing environments.

The position develops automation tools and scripts and designs and maintains Linux-based manufacturing systems. It works closely with electrical, firmware, and mechanical engineering teams to integrate software with embedded systems, sensors, robotics hardware, and test instrumentation. The role also drives root-cause investigations, establishes software validation methodologies, and improves manufacturing throughput, test coverage, traceability, and repeatability through automation and data-driven decisions.

The engineer develops data collection, serialization, logging, and transport infrastructure to track as-built firmware and software configurations. The role mentors junior engineers and manufacturing personnel, contributes to long-term manufacturing software strategy and tooling standardization, and collaborates with production, quality, supply chain, field operations, and product engineering teams. It supports deployment, troubleshooting, training, and sustainment across manufacturing and operational environments, and partners with product engineering to improve design for manufacturability throughout the product lifecycle.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Robotics, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of professional experience in software engineering, manufacturing automation, robotics, embedded systems, or production test environments, including technical leadership of complex systems.
• Strong proficiency in Python and at least one additional scripting or systems language, such as Bash, PowerShell, or C/C++.
• Experience designing scalable automated manufacturing test systems, reusable hardware test frameworks, and hardware-in-the-loop validation infrastructure.
• Deep expertise in Linux-based systems administration, deployment automation, networking, security, system services, and package management in production engineering or manufacturing environments.
• Experience with software configuration management, source control, CI/CD practices, and release management workflows.
• Familiarity with hardware interfaces and communication protocols such as UART, CAN, Ethernet, USB, I2C, SPI, or serial communications.
• Strong understanding of robotics, drones, electromechanical systems, embedded hardware, or autonomous systems.
• Experience troubleshooting integrated hardware/software systems in fast-paced production environments.
• Proficiency with data serialization and transport technologies such as JSON, Protobuf, REST interfaces, or similar frameworks.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation.
• Excellent analytical, debugging, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives and drive projects and teams with minimal oversight.
• Experience with PostgreSQL, SQLite, TimescaleDB, InfluxDB, or similar data storage systems used for manufacturing traceability and analytics.
• Experience building production telemetry, yield analysis, and traceability systems that support manufacturing decision making.
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance or higher, as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing production or engineering tools using Qt Framework or Python Qt bindings (PyQt/PySide).
• Experience with automated test equipment, instrumentation, and hardware validation systems.
• Familiarity supporting manufacturing execution systems (MES), ERP integrations, or production traceability systems in high-volume production.
• Experience supporting products operating under quality management systems in robotics, automotive, or other regulated industries in medium- to high-volume production.
• Familiarity with containerization, virtualization, or infrastructure automation technologies to optimize resources, application deployments, and updates.
• Experience with PLCs and industrial communication control system protocols such as OPC UA and SCADA.
• Experience in sUAV or robotics development, and/or hobby drones.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, deployment, and sustainment of manufacturing test software for assembly, integration, calibration, and final system validation.
• Architect scalable software frameworks for automated production test fixtures, diagnostics, telemetry collection, and hardware validation workflows.
• Own software configuration management, deployment pipelines, version control, and release processes for manufacturing and production environments.
• Develop automation tools and scripts to streamline production operations and reduce operator error.
• Design and maintain Linux-based manufacturing systems, including user management, permissions, networking, package management, and system hardening.
• Integrate software with embedded systems, sensors, robotics hardware, and test instrumentation in partnership with electrical, firmware, and mechanical engineering teams.
• Drive root-cause analysis of manufacturing defects, test failures, production escapes, and system reliability issues.
• Establish software validation methodologies to ensure production systems meet product requirements, configuration control, quality standards, and operational readiness criteria.
• Improve manufacturing throughput, test coverage, traceability, and process repeatability through automation and data-driven decision making.
• Develop data collection, serialization, logging, and transport tools and infrastructure to track as-built firmware and software configurations.
• Mentor junior engineers and manufacturing personnel on software best practices, debugging methodologies, and test system operation.
• Contribute to long-term manufacturing software strategy, tooling standardization, and production scalability initiatives.
• Collaborate with production, quality, supply chain, field operations, and product engineering teams to improve system reliability and operational efficiency.
• Support deployment, troubleshooting, training, and sustainment activities across manufacturing and operational environments, leveraging Admin/IT support.
• Partner with product engineering teams to improve design for manufacturability throughout the product lifecycle.

Benefits

• Comprehensive BCBS medical, dental, and vision coverage; 80% sponsored by the company.
• Safe Harbor 401(K) with company match.
• Paid parental leave.
• On-site gym at Huntsville, AL and Denver, CO locations.
• Employer-provided life insurance.
• Robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Teamwork- and innovation-oriented work environment.
• Competitive salary.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and flexible leave options.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal