Principal Flight Software Engineer (Spacecraft)

Location: Onsite near Denver, CO or Long Beach, CA, United States

Base salary: $180,000–$305,000 per year, plus equity and benefits.

Company

hirify.global develops autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors for space security and defense.

What you will do

• Own the architecture and technical direction of flight software for spacecraft missions, including onboard computers and processing units.
• Lead the design and development of robust, safety-critical embedded software focused on maintainability and mission reliability.
• Integrate GNC algorithms with flight software and collaborate with GNC engineers on correctness and performance.
• Define the Command Telemetry Database architecture and align interfaces and data flows with ground C2 software.
• Architect HITL and SITL simulation environments for subsystem and full-vehicle testing.
• Design reusable device-driver and communications-protocol libraries across flight hardware platforms and establish engineering standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.
• 15+ years of experience with embedded systems, low-level firmware architecture, and safety-critical software.
• Demonstrated ownership of flight software architecture on delivered space or safety-critical programs.
• Expert proficiency in C/C++ and proficiency in Python, with deep experience in low-level device drivers and real-time embedded systems.
• Hands-on experience with embedded RTOS platforms such as RTLinux or Azure RTOS, plus Ethernet, SPI, I2C, CAN, RS422, and RS485 protocols.
• Ability to maintain or obtain TS/SCI clearance and meet U.S. ITAR eligibility requirements, including U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residency, protected-individual status, or eligibility to obtain required authorizations.

Nice to have

• Master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.
• Direct contributions to on-orbit missions and experience defining engineering standards across a software organization.
• Embedded Linux, UDP, TCP/IP, embedded toolchains, microcontrollers, application processors, and large-scale revision control systems.
• Advanced debugging with oscilloscopes and protocol analyzers, or experience in robotics, automation, motor control, or sensor fusion.

Culture & Benefits

• Mission-driven work focused on securing the space environment and countering threats.
• Health, dental, vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO, and paid holidays.
• 401(k), equity, and parental leave.
• Onsite work in a space and defense engineering environment.