Senior Software Engineer (Spacecraft)

TL;DR

Senior Software Engineer (Spacecraft): Create software architecture for real-time, fault tolerant control of 20kW+ spacecraft with an accent on propulsion, guidance/attitude control, thermal, power, and communications systems. Focus on designing state machines, embedded systems, and robust tools for rapid deployment and anomaly resolution.

Location: Los Angeles, CA (onsite). ITAR: Must be U.S. Person (citizen, permanent resident, or protected individual).

Salary: $160,000 - $200,000 + equity

Company

Building the largest and highest-power satellites for LEO to deep space missions, backed by $450M from top investors.

What you will do

• Develop software architecture for real-time, fault-tolerant spacecraft control.
• Build applications for subsystems including propulsion, GNC, thermal, power, and comms.
• Design and implement state machines for robust operations.
• Create tools for rapid code deployment and perform data analysis for bug resolution.
• Support subsystem integration, testing, and infrastructure for reliable development.
• Verify code using software/hardware-in-the-loop simulators and operate on missions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's in CS, CE, EE, math, STEM or 5+ years software engineering experience.
• Development in Rust, C/C++, Python, VHDL, SystemVerilog.
• Experience with spacecraft flight software, Linux systems/driver programming.
• CI/CD systems, hard real-time embedded (bare-metal/RTOS).
• Basic electronics, architecture, control systems; state machines.
• Software verification, testing, performance analysis/debugging.

Nice to have

• Extended Kalman Filters for inertial sensors.
• Fault-tolerant software design.
• Test systems for hardware-in/out-of-the-loop.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits: PTO, medical/dental/vision, life insurance, parental leave.
• Fast-paced Series C startup environment with mission impact.
• Encourages cross-stack work from GNC algorithms to HDL and test systems.
• Equity in the company.