Flight Software Engineer

Alexander Associates; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace engineering firm is actively seeking a Flight Software Engineer to develop embedded software for critical spacecraft systems. In this role, you will support the entire software lifecycle in upcoming space missions, working on mission-critical technologies. Candidates should possess a degree in engineering with extensive experience in embedded flight software development, C programming, and hardware integration. Strong communication skills and teamwork are essential. Opportunities to shape the future of space technology await you.

Qualifications

• 4+ years’ experience in embedded flight software development.
• Experience in bare-metal C programming and hardware integration.
• Familiarity with RTOS or Embedded Linux required.

Responsibilities

• Develop embedded flight software for spacecraft systems.
• Verify software against systems and mission requirements.
• Lead software tasks for Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop testing.

Skills

Bare-metal C programming

ARM Cortex processors

RTOS or Embedded Linux

Low-level driver development

Hardware actuator/sensor integration

Collaboration within multidisciplinary teams

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Education

Bachelor's in Electrical, Software, Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree in relevant field

Job description

Flight Software Engineer

We are working with a client seeking to hire a Flight Software Engineer to support the development of embedded flight software and firmware for upcoming space missions. This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting‑edge in‑orbit technologies with real mission impact.

About the Role

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing, testing, and troubleshooting embedded flight software used in critical spacecraft systems. You will contribute across the full software lifecycle, from architecture and design through to implementation, integration, and mission support. The work will directly support in‑orbit operations and next‑generation space technologies.

What You’ll Do

• Develop embedded flight software for spacecraft systems and mission technologies.
• Architect, plan, and implement firmware / software solutions for system communication and mission coordination.
• Verify software against systems and mission requirements.
• Provide flight‑software input into overall system design and technical reviews.
• Lead software tasks for Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop (HITL) testing and support wider test campaigns.
• Contribute to ad‑hoc internal tools for mission analysis and development testing.
• Produce detailed documentation for software architecture and functionality.
• Engage directly with government and commercial customers when required.
• Coordinate software‑related tasks with suppliers, partners, and subcontractors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Electrical, Software, Aerospace Engineering, or similar, with 4+ years’ experience
• OR Master’s degree with 3+ years’ experience
• Proven experience in embedded flight software development, including:
• Bare‑metal C programming
• ARM Cortex processors
• RTOS or Embedded Linux
• Low‑level driver development (SPI, UART, I2C, CAN, etc.)
• Hardware actuator / sensor integration and HITL development
• Experience collaborating within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills