Senior Flight Software Engineer Verified today

CesiumAstro develops communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and space platforms. We are seeking a Senior Flight Software Engineer II to join our Internal Missions team.

The Role

You will be responsible for CesiumAstro satellite flight software and software-in-the-loop testing across all development stages. Your work includes designing and implementing software to monitor, test, and control spacecraft subsystems: attitude, command and data handling, navigation, thermal, and power.

You will direct and mentor a team of spacecraft software engineers on a new satellite system. Working with senior and principal engineers, you will own software design from architecture and block diagrams through requirements definition, implementation, code review, validation, and verification.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement software for satellites, ground stations, and mission operations centers.
• Develop, code, test, debug, and document system software.
• Review code and system designs for correctness and efficiency.
• Analyze code for efficiency, stability, and scalability.
• Integrate and validate new product designs.
• Support software quality assurance and optimize I/O performance.
• Provide post-production and in-orbit customer support.
• Collaborate with hardware design and development engineers.
• Assess third-party and open-source software.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Software or Computer Engineering (or higher degree) from an accredited university.
• Minimum 5 years industry experience in spacecraft software development. A Master's degree may count as two years of experience.
• Hands-on development and troubleshooting of software systems and hardware (motors, power distribution units, etc.).
• Experience with C, C++, Python, or other languages in aerospace context.
• Strong understanding of space missions from conception through flight and disposal.
• Familiarity with spacecraft mission design: events, pointing modes, maneuver planning, sequencing, and operations.
• Experience with spacecraft failure analysis in post-CDR testing and on-orbit; root cause analysis and recovery.
• Experience with design for reliability, spaceflight redundancy, and fault detection, identification, and recovery.
• Space software experience with attitude dynamics, coordinate frame transformations, vector mathematics, radiative heat transfer, propulsion, communication systems, and power systems.
• Experience with communication protocols (TCP/IP, UDP) for software-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop, and spaceflight.
• Experience integrating open-source software into systems.
• Embedded software experience for space missions.
• Ability to implement physical first principles as scripts or spreadsheets.
• Experience with software release, versioning, and configuration processes.
• Familiarity with configuration management, defect tracking, and peer review tools.
• Experience with radiation tolerance handling in software on automotive-grade parts.
• Familiarity with continuous integration, test, and delivery systems.
• Excellent understanding of multi-threaded applications and resource management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• CubeSat and SmallSat experience (LEO, MEO, GEO, and beyond).
• Hands-on experience with spacecraft instrumentation, subsystems, and test labs.
• Experience with JPL F', NASA cFS, and other commercial space software frameworks.
• Ground system software engineering for space missions.
• Team leadership role on a space software program.
• Non-space safety-critical software programs.
• Network security experience.

Employment Terms

Full-time position based in Westminster, CO. CesiumAstro offers company stock options and a benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability, and retirement plans.

US Person Requirement

To comply with US Government Space Technology Export Regulations, you must be a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee, refugee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the US Department of State.