Principal Program Manager

Job Title: Principal Program Manager

Location: Remote - US

Salary Range: $150,000 - $195,000 + Bonus Eligible

Reports to: VP of Program Execution

Company Overview

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.

As 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.

Description

Thompson Software Solutions is seeking a Principal Program Manager to lead the successful execution of multiple complex, customer-facing initiatives across aerospace and defense programs. This role is accountable for end-to-end program delivery, planning, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, stakeholder alignment, and operational governance; while partnering closely with engineering, quality, contracts, finance, and customer teams.

The Principal Program Manager will operate in a fast-paced, multi-site environment and will be expected to independently drive outcomes, remove roadblocks, and ensure disciplined execution in regulated, mission- and safety-critical contexts. You will establish and maintain program cadence, align internal teams to customer objectives, manage scope and change control, and provide clear, data-driven reporting to both customer and executive stakeholders. Success in this role requires strong leadership presence, exceptional communication, and the ability to coordinate distributed teams delivering software/hardware solutions within cost, schedule, and performance constraints.

Selected applicants will be subjected to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information and must maintain eligibility for continued access to classified information throughout their employment as required by the job.

·       Lead delivery of multiple cross-functional projects, including customer-driven, partnership, and internal initiatives.

·       Support project estimation, proposal development, and milestone planning.

·       Launch and manage project teams, ensuring clear understanding of goals, constraints, and timelines.

·       Coordinate distributed teams working on embedded software and hardware for defense, aerospace, automotive, and industrial markets.

·       Apply AS9100-certified processes and independent judgment to drive results.

·       Identify and mitigate risks, resolve cross-functional issues, and manage stakeholder expectations.

·       Conduct project reviews and maintain dashboards to monitor health and progress.

·       Drive process and tool improvements to support operational excellence and innovation.

·       Lead onsite engineering teams and manage cost, schedule, and technical execution.

·       Use Earned Value Management (EVM) to track and manage project performance.

·       Provide regular customer and leadership updates and ensure technical coordination.

·       Travel up to 25% required.

Required Qualifications:

·       Engineering BS degree, preferably in Electrical, Computers, or Systems; or equivalent technical experience.

·       5+ years of software development experience

·       Exceptional organizational, communication, collaboration, persuasion, team building, and other interpersonal skills.

·       At least 7 years' experience in project management.

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially for customer-facing and regulatory documentation.

·       Strong sense of accountability and ownership.  Diligent, tenacious, high integrity, and strong work ethic.

·       Able to quickly learn business and who to go to for which problems.  Politically savvy, but not self-serving.

·       Ability to professionally communicate project status and collaborate on technical solutions with external customers and peers

·       Proficient with Atlassian Tools (Confluence, JIRA, Bitbucket, etc.)

·       Prior Experience using Agile Software Methodologies

·       Experience in software development and integrations programs

·       Scrum Master experience

·       Clearance eligibility required

Desired Skills & Experience

·       Proven experience in embedded software development for safety-critical aerospace systems Application.

·       Skilled in managing geographically distributed engineering teams across complex, matrixed aerospace programs.

·       Expertise in Statements of Work, capacity planning, client engagement, scheduling, and risk management within regulated environments.

·       Experience leading teams through waterfall and agile development processes; Scrum Master certification is a plus.

·       Proficient in Microsoft Office tools (Visio, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Project) and Jira.

·       Familiarity with professional services automation platforms (e.g., Salesforce, SAP S/4Hana).

·       Background in graphics and compute frameworks (OpenGL SC, Vulkan) used in avionics and visualization systems.

·       Strong understanding of real-time operating systems, software development standards, and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).

·       Experience applying Six Sigma, Lean principles, and Objectives & Key Results (OKRs) in aerospace programs.

·       Deep knowledge of DO-178C certification, avionics software lifecycle, and Defense & Aerospace market requirements.

·       Exposure to Automotive Functional Safety (ISO 26262) is a plus for cross-industry applications.

·       Advanced certifications in project/program management (PMP, PgMP, CSM, PMI-ACP).

·       Master's degree in engineering or business preferred.

·       Experience as a Product Owner or in product management for aerospace systems.

·       Skilled in requirements generation, technical documentation, and stakeholder communication.

·       Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially for customer-facing and regulatory documentation.

Sound Exciting? Get in touch today! We have very robust benefits including: 

• Low-cost Medical / Dental / Vision coverage options 
• 401K with generous employer match 
• Responsible Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays 
• Remote work opportunities based on role 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• Career growth and professional development opportunities 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.