Senior Space Embedded Software Engineer Verified today
About Varda
Varda is accelerating commercial space infrastructure. We design, build, and operate W-Series vehicles in-house, including pharmaceutical processing payloads, reentry capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and satellite buses. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind by enabling manufacturing in orbit.
About This Role
The Senior Embedded Software Engineer on the Flight Software team determines how our spacecraft behaves and operates in orbit. You are responsible for all phases of development, from requirements capture through testing and flight operational support.
Responsibilities
- Develop reliable firmware to control how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate through the entire mission
- Own all aspects of software development, from design, testing, and integration
- Scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems
- Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based software for embedded processors in C++
- Build highly reliable and available software systems
- Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) techniques
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent technical experience in safety critical software
- 5+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software
- Experience developing and testing real-time embedded hardware / software systems
- Experience with development in C++, along with a strong understanding of language concepts
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications
- Experience with additional programming languages such as Python or Rust
- Strong understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, data structures, and computer networking
Compensation and Location
Salary range: $169,067 to $216,031 per year. This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA. Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance. You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
Benefits
Health & Wellness:
- Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
- Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
- 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
- Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Financial & Retirement:
- Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
- 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Workplace Experience & Perks:
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
ITAR Requirements
Varda must ensure that employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Our employees have access to certain export-controlled items. Our policy is to only hire US persons who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
US person means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).