Sr. Principal Architect, Systems and Mission Software (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Sr. Principal Architect, Systems and Mission Software (Aerospace): Designing and owning the end-to-end software architecture for the TeraWave satellite communications network with an accent on minimizing architectural complexity and ensuring scalability. Focus on designing program-wide CICD pipelines, over-the-air update systems, and integrating software with hardware constraints.

Location: Greater Seattle Area, USA. Must be a U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, refugee, or granted asylum

Salary: $264,103.00 - $369,743.85

Company

hirify.global is developing reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles to enable millions of people to live and work in space for the benefit of Earth.

What you will do

• Own the end-to-end software architecture for flight and ground systems, covering the satellite bus, mission operations, and payload domains.
• Define and maintain system-level interfaces between major software components to ensure minimal coupling and organizational alignment.
• Own the program-wide CICD architecture to enable rapid, safe, and traceable deployment at constellation scale.
• Architect system-level over-the-air (OTA) software update mechanisms for a live operational constellation.
• Drive the adoption of common tools, mechanisms, and standards across software domains to reduce fragmentation.
• Act as the senior technical authority on end-to-end software risks, leading assessments and mitigation strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent (Master's preferred).
• 12+ years of software engineering experience with a track record of architecting large-scale distributed systems.
• Demonstrated experience owning end-to-end software architecture for both flight and ground systems in satellite or spacecraft programs.
• Proficiency in C, C++, and Rust, specifically in flight or safety-critical embedded contexts.
• Deep understanding of hardware constraints, including processor/MCU selection and memory limitations.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident, refugee, or granted asylum.

Nice to have

• 15+ years of experience in software architecture for operational satellite programs.
• Familiarity with satellite autonomy, onboard FDIR, and automated constellation management.
• Experience with software security architecture for space systems, including command authentication and cybersecurity frameworks.
• Expertise in RTOS, containerization, and cloud-native tooling applied to flight and ground systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%.
• Stock options for all regular employees.
• Up to four weeks of Paid Time Off and 14 company-paid holidays.
• Relocation assistance provided.