Software Development Manager

ThinKom Solutions•Hawthorne, CA

1d•$140,000 - $200,000•Onsite

About The Position

At ThinKom, we design high-performance, next-generation mechanical systems that connect the world across air, land, sea, and space. Our technology operates in some of the world’s most demanding environments, from Inflight Connectivity (IFC) to High-Power Microwave (HPM) systems to Defense SATCOM. We are looking for a Software Development Manager to guide embedded software development for Linux-based applications running on RF system-on-chip (RFSoC) platforms and interfacing with FPGA logic. You will manage delivery across multiple programs, provide technical judgment for architecture, evaluate code quality, and build realistic development plans. You will own the software roadmap, determine staffing needs based on program performance and workload forecasts, and work with senior engineers, FPGA developers, and hardware teams to resolve integration risks. Direct contribution to development or debugging may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline (or equivalent industry experience).
3+ years of experience managing software engineering projects or teams, including setting priorities, developing schedules, and coordinating cross-functional delivery.
Substantial hands-on experience designing, developing, testing, and debugging production embedded software on Linux.
Proven ability to guide software architecture, conduct code reviews, evaluate technical tradeoffs, and assess implementation quality.
Proficiency with source control, code review, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, and software configuration/release management.
Experience developing software test plans and procedures, aligning developer testing with system-level integration and verification.
Experience applying Agile development practices (sprint planning, retrospectives) and adapting them to program milestones and engineering dependencies.
Proven track record defining software requirements/interfaces, resolving scope issues, and managing change with program stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to build credible estimates/plans, account for integration and test, and adapt schedules to emerging risks.
Strong organizational skills to balance competing priorities across multiple programs.
Experience coaching engineers, delivering performance feedback, and fostering technical growth within a team.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical tradeoffs, schedule risks, and recovery options to stakeholders.
Strong interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with internal peers, suppliers, and customers, including presenting in design reviews.
Strong reasoning skills, including decomposing complex problems and challenging unsupported assumptions.
Must be eligible to obtain and hold a US DoD Security Clearance in support of US Government contracts/subcontracts.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing embedded/Linux software integrated with physical hardware, network interfaces, or third-party equipment.
Background in satellite communications, antenna systems, controls, or complex hardware/software products.
Experience with automated regression testing, hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing, and root-cause analysis of field/operational anomalies.
Familiarity with RFSoC architectures and FPGA development workflows, including software/programmable logic integration.

Responsibilities

Own software engineering execution across assigned programs, setting priorities, assigning work, managing dependencies, and maintaining clear commitments for scope, resources, and delivery dates.
Guide embedded Linux software architecture with senior and principal engineers, evaluating software interfaces to RFSoC and FPGA hardware, including timing, data throughput, and resource constraints.
Meet regularly with staff to provide coaching, assess performance, and support development; recruit and onboard engineers, and address performance or capability gaps.
Contribute to software engineering policies and technical roadmaps, promoting reusable designs and consistent practices across programs.
Establish and enforce standards for code reviews, unit and integration testing, continuous integration, and release quality gates; participate in reviews and hold engineers accountable for resolving findings.
Work with Systems, RF, Controls, FPGA, and hardware engineering to define software requirements and hardware/software interfaces, coordinating software and FPGA development dependencies, integration sequencing, and interface changes.
Communicate progress using delivery milestones, defect trends, test results, and other meaningful measures; identify blockers early, develop recovery plans, and escalate risks with recommended actions.
Build a culture of first-principles thinking, ownership, and continuous learning, encouraging engineers to support technical claims and estimates with evidence.
Build plans from defined requirements and decomposed engineering tasks, challenging estimates against technical complexity, dependencies, team capacity, and uncertainty; use prototypes or investigations to resolve major unknowns.
Develop schedules with program management and Integration, Verification, and Validation (IVV), including time for hardware availability, integration, verification, defect resolution, and release preparation.
Guide debugging across embedded Linux applications, hardware interfaces, and FPGA interactions; review code and operational data, isolate root causes with RF and hardware teams, and contribute directly when needed.
Own and maintain the software development roadmap, aligning program commitments, product priorities, and architecture improvements with technical dependencies and available resources; recommend priorities and sequencing.
Work with program management to establish and maintain software scope, schedule, and cost baselines; track earned value, investigate variances, and update estimates to complete.
Forecast staffing and skill needs based on the roadmap, program workload, delivery performance, and remaining effort; identify capacity gaps and recommend hiring, contractor support, training, or reassignment.