Software Devlopment Manager

At Thin Kom, we don’t just build antennas - we design high-performance, next-generation mechanical systems that connect the world across air, land, sea, and space. From Inflight Connectivity (IFC) to High-Power Microwave (HPM) systems to Defense SATCOM, our technology operates in some of the world’s most demanding environments.

Thin Kom designs high-performance antenna systems for commercial in-flight connectivity, ground stations and gateway arrays, land-mobile terminals, and special-mission aircraft. Our products operate in demanding environments where reliable software and integration with RF, controls, and hardware are essential.

We’re looking for a Software Development Manager who 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 and bring the technical judgment to guide architecture, evaluate code quality, and build realistic development plans. You will own the software roadmap and use program performance and workload forecasts to determine staffing needs.

You will work with senior and principal engineers, FPGA developers, and hardware teams to resolve integration risks. You must be able to review code and contribute directly to development or debugging when needed.

• Software Delivery: Own software engineering execution across assigned programs. Set priorities, assign work, manage dependencies, and maintain clear commitments for scope, resources, and delivery dates.
• Architecture and Technical Reviews: Guide embedded Linux software architecture with senior and principal engineers. Evaluate software interfaces to RFSoC and FPGA hardware, including timing, data throughput, and resource constraints. Challenge assumptions and ensure decisions are documented and consistent with system requirements.
• People Management: Meet regularly with staff to provide coaching, assess performance, and support development. Recruit and onboard engineers, and address performance or capability gaps.
• Engineering Direction: Contribute to software engineering policies and technical roadmaps. Promote reusable designs and consistent practices across programs where appropriate.
• Code Quality and Developer Testing: 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.
• Requirements and Integration: Work with Systems, RF, Controls, FPGA, and hardware engineering to define software requirements and hardware/software interfaces. Coordinate software and FPGA development dependencies, integration sequencing, and interface changes before committing the team.
• Progress and Risk Reporting: Use delivery milestones, defect trends, test results, and other meaningful measures to communicate progress. Identify blockers early, develop recovery plans, and elevate risks with recommended actions.
• Team Development: Build a culture of first-principles thinking, ownership, and continuous learning. Encourage engineers to support technical claims and estimates with evidence.
• Development Planning: Build plans from defined requirements and decomposed engineering tasks. Challenge estimates against technical complexity, software and FPGA dependencies, team capacity, and uncertainty; use prototypes or investigations to resolve major unknowns.
• Verification and Release Coordination: Develop schedules with program management and Integration, Verification, and Validation (IVV). Include time for hardware availability, integration, verification, defect resolution, and release preparation.
• Technical Problem Solving: 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 to resolve difficult issues.
• Roadmap Planning: 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 based on delivery needs and engineering capacity.
• Earned Value Management: Work with program management to establish and maintain software scope, schedule, and cost baselines. Track earned value, investigate schedule and cost…