Principal Software Engineer

Thales is hiring a Principal Software Engineer to strengthen technical leadership across system safety, software assurance, and embedded software engineering within its Navigation and non-radar Surveillance (NAS) business. Based in Overland Park, KS on a hybrid schedule, this part-time role focuses on guiding assurance efforts for complex products, projects, and bids while providing hands-on expertise across multiple embedded and operating environments.

Salary: USD 131,086 - 220,640 per year. Experience: 8+ years of progressively responsible engineering experience.

Role Overview

• Act as the technical focal point for system safety and software assurance across assigned products, projects, and bids by defining assurance approaches using applicable standards, contractual requirements, and internal engineering processes.
• Lead safety and software assurance activities across the product lifecycle, including requirements, architecture, verification, compliance evidence, reviews, audits, release readiness, and resolution of assurance risks or gaps.
• Provide advanced embedded software engineering leadership for navigation and non-radar surveillance products, supporting design, development, integration, verification, and lifecycle support for complex software written in C and C++ across RTOS, Linux/Unix, and Windows environments.
• Resolve complex technical issues involving software architecture, hardware/software interfaces, timing, performance, safety, cybersecurity, and compliance, using structured analysis and evidence-based recommendations.
• Coordinate and influence multidisciplinary teams spanning Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Hardware Engineering, Verification and Validation, Quality, Cybersecurity, and Program Management to align technical activities, risks, schedules, and customer or approval-authority requirements.
• Mentor engineers and drive continuous improvement in software development, safety and assurance practices, technical review approaches, reusable evidence, and engineering methods, including communicating technical status, risks, and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline, plus 8+ years of progressively responsible engineering experience.
• 5+ years leading or performing system safety and/or software assurance for Air Traffic Management, aviation, or similarly complex safety-related systems.
• 5+ years embedded software development in RTOS environments with strong C/C++ proficiency, experience with microprocessor-based systems, and hardware/software integration.
• Advanced knowledge of safety and software assurance standards, including DO-278A/ED-109A and, where relevant, ED-153 or MIL-STD-882. Experience with DO-178B/C or ARP4761 may be considered where applicable principles can transfer to ground-system assurance.
• Experience evaluating safety and assurance requirements, developing or reviewing compliance evidence, applying system safety analysis methods, and managing requirements traceability, configuration, defects, technical reviews, and verification activities.
• Ability to provide technical leadership with substantial autonomy, resolve complex engineering issues, assess software change impacts, guide multidisciplinary teams, and communicate recommendations effectively through strong writing, stakeholder engagement, and mentoring.

Technologies

• C, C++, RTOS, Linux/Unix, Windows, DOORS, Jira, Digital Signal Processor, Linux kernel, Microsoft Visual Studio C++, ITAR, EAR, DO-254

Additional Position Requirements

• Master’s degree in a related field (Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent).
• Experience preparing for and participating in FAA, customer, or other approval-authority safety and software assurance reviews or audits, including support for Department of Defense and/or FAA programs.
• Experience with NAVAIDs such as ILS, DME, TACAN, or VOR and/or non-radar surveillance products such as ADS-B, including familiarity with related hardware/software assurance interfaces (including DO-254 where applicable).
• Experience with specialized software and platform environments, including Digital Signal Processor development, Linux kernel modification or administration, cybersecurity assessments, and/or Windows application development using Microsoft Visual Studio C++.
• Proficiency with requirements management, issue tracking, and engineering lifecycle tools and processes including DOORS, Jira, Thales engineering tools, Chorus processes, and product lifecycle practices. Additional language capabilities supporting international collaboration are preferred.
• Approximately 45% part-time salaried position, primarily based in the Overland Park, Kansas office on a hybrid work schedule with a Monday–Thursday 9/80 or 5/40 schedule and less than 10% annual domestic and international travel.

Benefits

• Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, with no vesting period
• Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off
• Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well-being Program

Referral Bonus Eligibility

• Tier 1: $2,500

Regulatory and Compliance

• Must be a US Person as defined in applicable law.
• Must be a U.S. Person or otherwise authorized or eligible for authorization to access hardware, software, technology, or technical data controlled under ITAR and/or EAR.
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or for assuming sponsorship of an employment visa now or in the future.
• Post-offer background check required.

Total Target Cash (TTC) market range: USD 131,086.77 - 220,640.08 annually.