Space Segment Software Systems Engineer - Senior Verified today

About the role

As a Software Systems Engineer on the Spacecraft Systems Engineering team, you will provide the technical connection between flight software, spacecraft systems functions, ground operations, and test engineering. You will ensure program requirements, operational descriptions, and system designs meet customer needs and enable successful mission implementation.

This is a senior position in the In-Space Systems business unit, focused on space infrastructure and on-orbit mobility. You will work across spacecraft development, flight software, spaceflight operations, test engineering, and ground systems teams.

Your responsibilities

• Support Flight Software and subsystem teams in defining system-level software requirements and allocations
• Coordinate overall software architecture strategy and implementation approach
• Create guidelines and procedures for software development, implementation, and verification
• Oversee software development resources and interface control documents (ICDs)
• Conduct software lifecycle reviews including code walkthroughs, requirements reviews, and test readiness reviews
• Review and approve software management plans (development, test, maintenance, configuration management, fault management)
• Oversee flight software verification and spacecraft integration test activities
• Mentor engineering teams on flight software development, testing, commands, telemetry, and operations
• Coordinate with internal users and payloads to ensure software interfaces are adequate and agreed
• Develop and refine software requirements to ensure they are understandable, valid, traceable, and verifiable
• Provide technical mentoring to junior engineers
• Develop standards and processes, ensuring adherence across the program

Required qualifications

• B.S. degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or equivalent technical field
• 10 or more years of related experience in design, development, and test of aerospace systems, preferably spacecraft
• Demonstrated understanding of systems engineering fundamentals and experience in multiple system lifecycle phases
• Experience developing or testing flight software
• Familiarity with spacecraft flight software design and architecture (e.g. cFS, F Prime, etc.)
• Understanding of embedded software development concepts including hardware integration, message buses, scheduling, and network communication
• Domain experience with spacecraft systems, subsystems, interfaces, and communication protocols (serial, 1553, Ethernet, embedded software)
• Experience with CCSDS standards including command and telemetry formats
• Familiarity with spacecraft operations, command and control, and/or spacecraft communications
• Experience developing an integrated system with depth in one or more spacecraft subsystems and/or system design and integration
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• U.S. citizen, national, permanent resident (Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted as refugee or granted asylum

Preferred qualifications

• M.S. degree in a relevant technical field
• Active TS/SCI security clearance with CI poly
• Demonstrated experience debugging and identifying root cause at hardware/software boundary
• Experience defining and performing complex trade studies
• Experience using hardware and software testbeds and lab environments for software and system verification
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and modern software development practices
• Jira, GitLab, CI/CD pipelines
• Familiarity with or experience in Model-Based Systems Engineering, System Models, or System Architecture diagrams

Compensation and location

Base pay range varies by location:

• CA: $145,188.00 - $203,263.20
• CO: $133,500.00 - $186,898.95
• WA: $145,188.00 - $203,263.20
• VA: $145,188.00 - $203,263.20

Other site ranges may differ. Relocation provided. Travel expected up to 15% of the time.

What we offer

• Medical, dental, vision insurance
• Basic and supplemental life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long-term disability
• 401(k) with company match up to 5%
• Stock options for regular employees (20+ hours/week)
• Education Support Program
• Paid Time Off: up to 4 weeks per year and up to 14 company-paid holidays
• Potential bonuses based on role, level, and individual contributions

Additional information

Active clearance is highly desired but not required (TS/SCI with CI poly or upgradable to it). Applications accepted on ongoing basis until requisition closed. Background checks required for all positions.