{"id":1158809,"url":"https://alion.io/job/lynx-principal-software-engineer-autonomous-systems","title":"Principal Software Engineer (Autonomous Systems)","company":{"id":678562,"name":"Lynx","domain":"lynx.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/lynx-6","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Rippling","truth_index":null},"role":"Robotics","role_family":"Robotics","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Palmdale, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":160000,"max":208000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":208000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"ArduPilot","optional":false},{"name":"Bash","optional":false},{"name":"Bitbucket","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"Computer Vision","optional":false},{"name":"Confluence","optional":false},{"name":"Docker","optional":false},{"name":"Git","optional":false},{"name":"Java","optional":false},{"name":"MAVLink","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Sensor Fusion","optional":false},{"name":"Windows","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-23T21:25:44Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-23","last_verified_at":"2026-09-29T02:03:54Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":5,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":5},"description":"Job Title: PrincipalSoftware Engineer (Autonomous Systems)\nLocation: Fort Worth, TX or Palmdale, CA.\nCompensation: $160,000 - $208,000 + Bonus Eligible\nSecurity Clearance: Ability to obtain a Secret Clearance\n\nWho we are: 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.\nAs 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.\n\nDescription:\nThompson Software Solutions is seeking a senior-level Embedded Software Engineer 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 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.\nSelected 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.\nBasic Requirements:\nBachelor's degree in computer engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.\n8+ years Strong software development experience using C, C++, Java, Python, and Bash for embedded systems, automation, testing, and application development.\nExperience developing and configuring autonomous flight systems using ArduPilot and/or PX4 flight controllers.\nExperience with UAS/UAV or RC aircraft operations, integration, and troubleshooting.\nProficient with Git for source control, branching strategies, code reviews, and collaborative software development.\nUnderstanding robotics, autonomous systems, flight software, sensor integration, and embedded system design\nProficient with Linux and Windows development environments \nAbility to professionally communicate project status and collaborate on technical solutions with clients and peers \nAbility to obtain Secret DoD security clearance \n25% travel\nPreferred / Additional Skills:\nProficient with Atlassian Tools (Confluence, JIRA, Bitbucket, etc.) \nFamiliarity with the MAVLink communication protocol, including telemetry, command-and-control messaging, mission planning, and integration with ground control stations.\nDevOps & Containerization - Experience with Docker-based development, deployment, and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.\nEmbedded Systems - Developing software for microcontrollers and embedded hardware platforms.\nAutonomy Systems - Working with autonomous systems software and hardware, including Perception (sensors, computer vision, sensor fusion)\nMotion and mission planning\nControl systems\nTest & Verification Engineering - Creating automated tests, validation frameworks, and verification software.\nSoftware Quality & CI/CD - Designing and maintaining robust software quality processes, automated builds, testing, and deployment pipelines.\nElectrical Engineering Fundamentals - Ability to read and understand electrical schematics and collaborate with hardware teams.\nExperience communicating and documenting complex technical designs. \nAbility to work in a collaborative and team-based environment \nExcellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills. \nActive DoD Secret Security Clearance\nSound Exciting? Get in touch today! We have very robust benefits including:\nLow-cost Medical / Dental / Vision coverage options \n401K with generous employer match \nResponsible Paid Time Off + Paid Holidays \nRemote work opportunities based on role \nEmployee Assistance Program (EAP) \nCareer growth and professional development opportunities \nAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.\n#CJ","description_format":"text","description_chars":5069,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["401k plan","Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Embedded Software & RTOS","Operating Systems"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-23T22:46:31Z"}],"liveness":{"score":90,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.903,"p_room":1,"age_days":4,"expected_fill_days":37,"reasons":["conf:1","velocity","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-09-28T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":208000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/lynx-principal-software-engineer-autonomous-systems","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/lynx-principal-software-engineer-autonomous-systems.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-09-29T04:14:34Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":4001,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":999,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-09-30T00:00:00Z"}}}