Flight Software Engineer

Lúnasa Ltd.; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Lúnasa Ltd. in London is seeking a Flight Software Engineer to design, develop, and deploy flight-critical software that runs on satellites, from low-level embedded code to autonomous mission logic. You will own the software stack and work across the full lifecycle, including hardware-in-the-loop testing and in-orbit operations.

This role requires the ability to obtain UK national security clearance and a hands-on approach in a fast-paced, high-reliability space environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with embedded software for aerospace or high-reliability systems.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing and validation.
• Ability to design software from low-level embedded code to mission-level logic.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain flight software for spacecraft systems.
• Own the software stack from embedded to mission logic.
• Develop and integrate software for subsystems (ADCS, GNC, payloads, communications).
• Implement robust FDIR strategies.
• Collaborate with hardware and systems teams for tight integration.
• Support SITL and HITL testing.
• Contribute to system architecture, interfaces, and mission design.
• Support in-orbit operations, debugging, updates, and performance monitoring.
• Experience in embedded software development for aerospace or high-reliability domains.
• Proficiency in C/C++ and real-time systems.
• Familiarity with Linux-based systems and hybrid architectures.
• Experience with version control and CI/CD pipelines (Git).

Skills

Embedded software

C/C++

RTOS

Real-time systems

Linux

Hardware interfaces

Git

CI/CD pipelines

Education

Relevant degree in Space Engineering, Physics, Maths, or related disciplines

Tools

FreeRTOS

Zephyr

GCC

Job description

About Lúnasa:
Lúnasa is a UK-based NewSpace company (acquired by Infinite Orbits) building advanced and autonomous systems and satellites for in-orbit satellite services. Our mission is to provide geostationary operators with all the in-orbit services they need, from the inspection of their assets to the extension of their lifespan and the management of the end-of-life phase.

The company has received multiple contracts from the UK Space Agency and ESA to build and deploy AI-based satellite rendezvous proximity operations (RPO) technology and is set to demonstrate the innovation in space by 2027.

Location:London (on-site working)Salary: Competitive.
Be able to obtain UK national security clearance

Job summary:
In this role, as a Flight Software Engineer, you will design, develop, and deploy flight-critical software systems that run on our satellites, from low-level embedded code to higher-level autonomy and mission logic. You will work across the full lifecycle, from early architecture and simulation through to hardware-in-the-loop testing, integration, and in-orbit operations.

This is a high-ownership, hands-on role where your work will directly fly in space. You will be expected to make key technical decisions, operate across system boundaries, and help shape the software backbone of Lúnasa’s spacecraft platforms. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments, is comfortable with ambiguity, and is driven by building reliable, real-world systems

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain flight software for spacecraft systems
• Own the software stack from low-level embedded systems to mission-level logic
• Develop and integrate software for key subsystems (ADCS, GNC, payloads, communications, etc.)
• Implement robust fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) strategies
• Work closely with hardware and systems teams to ensure tight hardware-software integration
• Support simulation environments, including software-in-the-loop (SITL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing
• Contribute to system architecture, interface definitions, and mission design
• Support in-orbit operations, including debugging, updates, and performance monitoring
• Strong experience in embedded software development, ideally in aerospace or other high-reliability domains
• Proficiency in C/C++ (or similar low-level languages used in embedded systems)
• Experience working with real-time systems and/or RTOS (e.g. FreeRTOS, RTEMS, Zephyr, or similar)
• Solid understanding of software architecture for constrained systems (memory, power, timing)
• Experience with hardware interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, etc.)
• Familiarity with Linux-based systems and hybrid architectures (bare-metal + higher-level compute)
• Experience with simulation, testing, and validation frameworks
• Understanding of spacecraft subsystems (ADCS, GNC, EPS, communications)
• Experience with version control and CI/CD pipelines (e.g. Git)

Personal Skills:

• Should not yield under stress and should produce results during difficult situations.
• Should enjoy problem-solving and product results within a given schedule and budget.
• Should be capable of working independently and in a team environment as part of a fast-paced and dynamic technical environment.
• Should be solution-oriented and should display a flexible attitude in the face of changing conditions.

Education:

Relevant degree in Space Engineering, Physics, Maths, or related disciplines.