Lead Software Engineer

Xperior Global; España; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work in Spain

Job summary

Xperior Global is seeking a Lead Software Engineer to own the Flight Software architecture for SmallSat missions. You will lead the software team, stay hands-on with code, and drive architecture decisions across Flight and Ground Software.

The role requires strong C/C++ expertise, embedded Linux/RTOS experience, and proven leadership in a high-reliability aerospace environment. The position offers a flexible hybrid working arrangement in Spain, opportunities to work with international teams, and

Qualifications

• Proven embedded software engineering experience with hands-on coding in C/C++.
• Strong experience with embedded Linux and RTOS environments.
• Knowledge of low-level hardware interfaces (CAN, UART, I2C, SPI).
• Ability to own software architecture and technical design decisions.
• Experience leading or mentoring software engineers.
• Familiarity with Git/Jenkins and Agile tools (Jira).

Responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of the Flight Software architecture across SmallSat missions.
• Lead and mentor the software engineering team with hands-on involvement.
• Design, develop, integrate and test Flight Software and Ground Software.
• Develop and review embedded software using C/C++.
• Make key software architecture and design decisions.
• Troubleshoot embedded systems and hardware/software integration issues.
• Work with Linux and RTOS-based environments; support low-level hardware interfaces.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineering, AIV, Verification and Operations.
• Develop CI/CD and build automation infrastructure.
• Manage software delivery, scope, resources and coordination with stakeholders.

Skills

Embedded software

C/C++

Linux/RTOS

Hardware integration

Software architecture

Technical leadership

Git/Jenkins

Jira/Agile

8+ years experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science / Electrical Engineering / Aerospace Engineering

Tools

Git

Jenkins

Linux

Job description

Xperior Global is recruiting a Lead Software Engineer - SmallSats for our client, a high-tech engineering organisation with an established track record delivering complex projects across the Space, Fusion Energy and Scientific Research sectors.

Our client has already developed and successfully flown its own family of satellites, with multiple spacecraft currently in orbit. Building on this flight heritage, the business is expanding its SmallSat capability and developing its modular satellite platform for increasingly ambitious institutional missions.

As part of this growth, we are looking for an experienced Lead Software Engineer to take technical ownership of the software capability supporting future satellite missions.

The Role

This is not a purely managerial Software Engineering position.

You will lead and develop the software team while remaining closely involved in the engineering itself making architecture decisions, writing and reviewing code, troubleshooting embedded systems and resolving hardware/software integration challenges.

The primary technical focus will be Flight Software (FSW), alongside responsibility for Ground Software (GSW). You will act as the technical authority for Flight Software and play a key role in defining how the software architecture evolves across the client's SmallSat platform.

You will work closely with Systems Engineering, AIV and Operations, taking software through architecture, development, integration, verification and ultimately spacecraft operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of the Flight Software architecture across SmallSat missions.
• Lead, mentor and grow the software engineering team while maintaining strong hands-on technical involvement.
• Lead the design, development, integration and testing of Flight Software and Ground Software.
• Develop and review embedded software using C/C++.
• Make key software architecture and technical design decisions.
• Troubleshoot embedded systems and complex hardware/software integration issues.
• Work with Linux and RTOS-based embedded environments.
• Support integration with low-level hardware interfaces and communication protocols including CAN, UART, I2C and SPI.
• Collaborate closely with Systems Engineering, AIV, Verification and Operations teams.
• Improve software development standards, testing methodologies and engineering practices as the Space division scales.
• Develop and strengthen CI/CD and build automation infrastructure.
• Manage software delivery, including technical scope, resources and coordination with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Support compliance with relevant space-industry software and quality standards.
• Engage directly with institutional and commercial customers when required.

What We’re Looking For

We are particularly interested in senior embedded software engineers who have progressed into Technical Lead or Software Lead responsibilities without moving away from hands-on engineering.

You should bring:

• Strong professional experience in embedded software engineering.
• Recent, hands-on programming experience with C/C++.
• Strong experience with embedded Linux and/or RTOS environments.
• Experience developing software that interacts directly with real hardware.
• Knowledge of low-level interfaces and protocols such as CAN, UART, I2C and SPI.
• Strong hardware/software integration and debugging capabilities.
• Experience owning or influencing software architecture and technical design decisions.
• Previous experience leading, mentoring or technically guiding software engineers.
• Experience with development and build tools such as Git and Jenkins.
• Experience working within Agile development environments and tools such as Jira.
• Ideally 8+ years of relevant software engineering experience.
• A degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

Highly Desirable

Experience within the space sector, spacecraft avionics or Flight/Onboard Software would be particularly valuable.

Knowledge or practical experience of FDIR (Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery), spacecraft fault handling or other high-reliability avionics systems would also be highly desirable.

Candidates coming from other technically demanding or high-reliability embedded environments may also be considered where the experience is transferable.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

The attraction of this position is the level of technical ownership and influence.

Rather than owning one software component within a very large programme, you will have the opportunity to influence the wider Flight Software architecture, engineering standards, development approach and software team behind an evolving SmallSat platform.

You will combine technical leadership with genuine hands-on engineering and contribute directly to the future direction of the client's satellite technology.

The position offers a flexible hybrid working arrangement in Spain, flexible working hours and collaboration with international engineering teams.

Interested?

Apply through Xperior Global to discuss the opportunity in more detail.