Staff Flight Software Engineer (C++)

Location: Long Beach, California, United States

Salary: $181,000–$271,000 USD per year

Company

hirify.global develops rockets and spacecraft systems, including the Terran R launch vehicle and interplanetary science missions.

What you will do

• Design, implement, and test flight software for spacecraft command, control, and autonomy across all mission phases.
• Own the full software lifecycle from requirements capture and architecture through implementation, integration, testing, and flight operations support.
• Collaborate with avionics, GNC, propulsion, and mission operations teams to integrate software with spacecraft hardware.
• Develop and execute verification and validation processes focused on flight safety, reliability, and mission success.
• Support on-vehicle and hardware-in-the-loop testing, debugging, and mission simulations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience developing, testing, and delivering embedded or real-time flight software.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and understanding of memory management, concurrency, and embedded systems design.
• Experience with RTOS or Linux-based embedded development, software integration, and system-level testing.
• Ability to scope open-ended problems, work autonomously, and deliver high-quality flight-ready software.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a fast-paced environment and demonstrate adaptability and problem-solving skills.

Nice to have

• Experience with spaceflight, launch vehicles, or planetary spacecraft software.
• Familiarity with deep-space communication protocols and autonomy frameworks.
• Experience with Python or Rust for tooling, testing, or simulation support.
• Background in hardware-in-the-loop testing, embedded networking, or fault-tolerant system design.
• Knowledge of NASA or other aerospace software development and verification standards.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive salary and equity.
• Generous paid time off and sick leave.
• Parental leave.
• Annual learning and development stipend.
• Autonomy, ownership, cross-functional collaboration, and opportunities to shape products and systems.