Flight Software Engineer

Alexander Associates Limited; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A space technology company in the UK is seeking a Flight Software Engineer to develop and support embedded flight software for critical spacecraft systems. The role involves overseeing the software lifecycle from architecture to implementation, impacting upcoming space missions. Candidates should have a background in Electrical, Software, or Aerospace Engineering with proven experience in embedded software development, including C programming and ARM Cortex processors. Strong communication skills and teamwork are essential.

Qualifications

• 4+ years’ experience in embedded flight software development.
• Experience with bare-metal C programming and ARM Cortex processors.
• Collaboration within multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop embedded flight software for spacecraft systems.
• Architect and implement firmware/software solutions for mission coordination.
• Verify software against systems and mission requirements.

Skills

Embedded flight software development

Bare-metal C programming

ARM Cortex processors

RTOS or Embedded Linux

Low-level driver development

Hardware actuator integration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s in Electrical, Software, Aerospace Engineering or similar

Master’s degree

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

Required

• 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.