Principal Software Engineer – Systems & Delivery (Mission Ground Systems)

Lynk•Chantilly, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Lynk is the inventor of satellite direct to device or D2D technology, and has the world’s only commercial license from the FCC to operate a commercial D2D system. Today, Lynk allows mobile network operators' subscribers to send and receive text messages to and from space via standard unmodified, mobile devices. Lynk’s service has been tested and proven on all seven continents, has regulatory approvals in more than 30 countries and is currently being deployed commercially based on more than 40 MNO commercial service contracts covering approximately 50 countries. Our technology will enable all 8 billion people on the planet to stay connected with the existing standard phone in their pocket. Everywhere. No matter what. By joining Lynk, you will have the opportunity to directly touch the lives of billions. Your mission will be to bring mobile broadband to billions, pull hundreds of millions out of poverty, and save countless lives. Job Summary: Lynk seeking a Principal Software Engineer to provide technical leadership within the Mission Ground Software team. This role is focused on turning complex, evolving mission needs into reliable, delivered software systems that support real-world satellite operations. This is a hands-on technical leadership role. The Principal Engineer is expected to contribute directly to the codebase while also guiding a strong existing team toward clear, executable solutions. This role emphasizes execution, system reliability, and engineering clarity over abstract architecture or theoretical design. A core responsibility of this role is to translate ambiguous, high-level initiatives into well-defined, sequenced, and deliverable engineering work. Success is measured not just by individual contribution, but by improving the team’s ability to consistently deliver complete, operationally useful systems. This role contributes to technical direction by presenting options, trade-offs, and grounded recommendations, and by constructively challenging approaches when needed to ensure reliable execution. A successful candidate will operate through technical judgment, clarity, and quality of execution, not positional authority.

Requirements

Strong software engineering experience (typically 8+ years) with demonstrated ownership of complex systems
Proficiency in one or more of the following: Rust, Python, or C/C++
Experience designing and building backend systems and APIs
Experience working with cloud-based infrastructure and managed services (AWS or similar)
Demonstrated ability to break down complex problems into executable work
Experience improving system reliability, maintainability, and operational readiness
Demonstrated use of AI-assisted tools to accelerate development or debugging

Nice To Haves

Experience with infrastructure-as-code (Terraform), configuration management (Ansible), or CI/CD systems
Familiarity with distributed systems, real-time systems, or mission-critical environments
Experience working in or supporting operational environments (e.g., 24/7 systems, hardware-integrated systems)
Exposure to frontend technologies (React, Typescript)
Experience using AI-assisted development tools to improve engineering efficiency

Responsibilities

Execution & Delivery Leadership: Convert high-level or ambiguous initiatives into clear, actionable engineering plans
Break down large system efforts into sequenced, achievable units of work
Define what “done” means for features and systems, and ensure work meets that standard
Identify dependencies, constraints, and risks early, and adjust plans accordingly
Drive work through to completion, with a focus on delivering usable, reliable capabilities
System Ownership & Reliability:: Design and implement backend services, APIs, and mission-critical software components
Ensure systems are robust, maintainable, and suitable for operational use
Improve system observability, debugging, and operational support capabilities
Contribute to incident resolution and ensure issues are followed through to root cause and resolution
Technical Leadership & Team Enablement: This role leads primarily through direct contribution; building, shipping, and owning systems alongside the team.
Provide day-to-day technical guidance and mentorship to engineers across the team
Help establish and reinforce engineering standards for quality, clarity, and completeness
Enable other engineers to execute effectively by providing structure, context, and direction
Improve team execution rhythm by helping prioritize, sequence, and focus work
Raise engineering quality through code review, pairing, and leading by example
Architecture & Technical Direction: Contribute to system architecture through practical design decisions grounded in current needs
Present multiple implementation options with clear trade-offs when appropriate
Evolve system design incrementally through delivered work, rather than large, upfront redesigns
Ensure architectural decisions support both near-term delivery and long-term system viability
Bridging Software and Operations: Engage with mission operators and stakeholders to understand how systems are used in practice
Build software that reflects real operational workflows and constraints
Prioritize solutions that improve reliability, usability, and operational efficiency