Principal Software Engineer, Timing and Synchronization

Parry Labs; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Parry Labs in Huntsville, AL, is seeking a senior software engineer to lead timing software development for resilient timing and synchronization across distributed systems.

You will apply PNT expertise, integrate GNSS receivers, clock discipline, and holdover algorithms, and drive design decisions with systems engineers. Start target is November 2026, with opportunities to mentor teammates and shape critical timing solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, applied mathematics or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 9+ years of software engineering experience with technical leadership and delivery of timing or synchronization software.
• Strong PNT or assured PNT expertise including clock stability, drift, uncertainty, clock discipline and holdover.
• Proficiency in a systems programming language such as C or C++, with experience implementing and debugging timing software.
• Experience with estimation or filtering algorithms and PTP, NTP, GNSS timing or hardware timestamping.
• Experience defining software interfaces, reviewing code and validating performance through automated tests and measured data.
• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance if required.

Responsibilities

• Define timing software architecture, interfaces, error budgets and acceptance criteria with systems engineers.
• Implement and validate time-source fusion, clock discipline and holdover algorithms with the software team.
• Develop synchronization services with defined behavior for clock drift, conflicting sources and reference loss.
• Integrate GNSS receivers, oscillators and hardware timestamping through testable software interfaces.
• Measure and improve PTP and NTP performance under latency, packet loss and asymmetric network delay.
• Build automated tests for timing accuracy, uncertainty and recovery under degraded conditions.
• Lead design and code reviews. Mentor engineers on timing algorithms, concurrency and numerical correctness.
• Analyze timing measurements, resolve integration defects and document design decisions and verification results.

Skills

C/C++

PNT expertise

Software architecture

Code reviews

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/CE/EE or related field

Tools

GNSS receivers

Linux / RTOS

Job description

Who Are We?

At Parry Labs we believe the modern combat advantage relies on the speed and scale of open systems. We’re redefining the edge of the ever-changing and increasingly ever-changing battlespace by delivering game changing capabilities to our warfighters through digital engineering, software, and hardware solutions that are essential to our core of being a Digital Systems Integrator.

Born digital and agile, Parry Labs is building a winning team to be the premier provider for Next Generation Mission Systems Integration across air, land, sea, space and cyber.

Are you ready to be an instrumental part of experts in the industry? Join us in the innovation of integration at Parry and apply to help develop the technologies of tomorrow while reaching new heights in your career today.

About The Job

At Parry Labs, you will lead software development for resilient timing and synchronization. You will apply positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) expertise to keep distributed systems synchronized when reference signals or network connections degrade. You will report to a functional software engineering manager, with technical direction from the Chief Engineer. The target start is November 2026.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Define timing software architecture, interfaces, error budgets and acceptance criteria with systems engineers.
• Implement and validate time-source fusion, clock discipline and holdover algorithms with the software team.
• Develop synchronization services with defined behavior for clock drift, conflicting sources and reference loss.
• Integrate GNSS receivers, oscillators and hardware timestamping through testable software interfaces.
• Measure and improve PTP and NTP performance under latency, packet loss and asymmetric network delay.
• Build automated tests for timing accuracy, uncertainty and recovery under degraded conditions.
• Lead design and code reviews. Mentor engineers on timing algorithms, concurrency and numerical correctness.
• Analyze timing measurements, resolve integration defects and document design decisions and verification results.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, applied mathematics or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 9+ years of software engineering experience, including technical leadership and delivery of timing or synchronization software.
• Strong PNT or assured PNT expertise, including clock stability, drift, uncertainty, clock discipline and holdover.
• Proficiency in a systems programming language such as C or C++, with experience implementing and debugging timing software.
• Experience with estimation or filtering algorithms and PTP, NTP, GNSS timing or hardware timestamping.
• Experience defining software interfaces, reviewing code and validating performance through automated tests and measured data.
• U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance if required. An active clearance is not required at hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Rust experience is strongly preferred. Candidates with strong PNT expertise qualify without prior Rust experience.
• Experience with embedded software, Linux or real-time operating systems.
• Experience characterizing oscillators or atomic clocks, including phase error, frequency error and Allan deviation.
• Experience with Python or MATLAB for timing analysis, authenticated time sources or fault‑tolerant synchronization.

Why Join Parry Labs?

At Parry Labs, we foster a culture of curiosity and collaboration. Employees are given the autonomy to leverage their skills in creating state‑of‑the‑art tech solutions that aid in the protection of the American Warfighter. We encourage new and bold ideas that push the status quo. It is this entrepreneurial spirit that drives us.

Parry Labs will support you with workplace flexibility, a commitment to the health and well‑being of you and your family and provide opportunities to work with a purpose. We are committed to supporting your success in both your professional and personal lives with benefits such as education assistance and unlimited paid time off, just to name a few.

Accessibility/Accommodation

If because of a medical condition or disability you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to [e-mail] or call [phone] to let us know the nature of your request and contact information.