Space Software Engineer

Spacebrains; Pisa; Hybrid; EUR 50,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Transport allowance

Meal allowance

Salary review yearly

Job summary

Fluid Wire Robotics, a startup focusing on extreme-environment robotics, is seeking a medior/senior flight software engineer to anchor the software stack for an in-orbit demonstration in 2028. You will work in the Space Division in Pisa with hardware on hand, building embedded control, APIs, and TM/TC interfaces to ensure safe autonomous operation of Fluid Wire robotic manipulators.

Your role spans defining the robot API architecture, developing flight and platform software, and aligning with

Qualifications

• Experience delivering flight software on space-grade hardware.
• Architect robust APIs for robotic or embedded systems.
• Knowledge of spacecraft avionics and ground segments.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the robot API architecture for the payload.
• Design and implement flight and platform software for the IOD mission.
• Lead spacecraft integration with ECSS and mission requirements.
• Implement simulation and HIL testing, automate verification.
• Collaborate in system engineering and mission planning.
• Drive software reliability and performance through code reviews and CI.

Skills

C

C++

RTOS

Embedded Linux

CMake

Git

Tools

SpaceWire

MIL-STD-1553

Job description

flexible hours freelance / permanent medior/senior permanent Startup / Scaleup

Job Description

Role Snapshot

You’ll build the flight software that makes Fluid Wire robotic manipulators operate autonomously and safely in orbit. You’ll anchor the software stack for the 2028 in-orbit demonstration funded by the EIC Accelerator, spanning embedded control, APIs, and mission TM/TC. You’ll work in the Space Division in Pisa with hardware at hand, shaping interfaces that let mechatronics and flight systems perform as one

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the robot API architecture for the payload, enabling reliable command, telemetry, and cross-team integration
• Design and implement flight and platform software for the IOD mission, from control and monitoring to data handling
• Lead spacecraft integration, aligning with ECSS and mission requirements, and managing ground to space TM/TC links
• Implement simulation and HIL testing, automate verification, and iterate from lab prototypes to flight models
• Collaborate in system engineering and mission planning, translating requirements into software and test plans
• Drive software reliability and performance through code reviews, CI, and fault management strategies

What You Bring

Technical Toolkit

• C, C++, RTOS, embedded Linux, CMake, Git
• ECSS software standards, TM/TC concepts, FDIR, timing and determinism
• Interfaces and buses: USART, SPI, I2C, CAN, SpaceWire, MIL-STD-1553
• Space and network protocols: CCSDS, PUS, TCP, UDP, Ethernet
• Simulation, HIL, unit and integration testing

Professional Experience

• Deliver flight software on space-grade hardware, from prototype to flight model deployment
• Architect robust APIs for robotic or embedded systems, ensuring traceability and maintainability
• Integrate with spacecraft avionics and ground segments, owning uplink, downlink, and telemetry pipelines
• Partner with mechanical and electronics teams to achieve system-level performance under mission constraints

Nice-to-have

• Robotics software for manipulators or legged systems, motion control, state estimation
• EtherCAT, CANopen, DDS or similar middleware for real-time distributed systems
• Experience in harsh environment autonomy or remote operations

Languages

• English - B2 (must have)
• Italian - C1 (must have)
• Salary review on regular basis (at least yearly)
• Transport and meal allowance

Fluid Wire Robotics is a robotics startup developing advanced systems for extreme environments such as space, subsea, and nuclear. As a spin-off from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, the company blends academic research with practical engineering to build reliable, high-performance robotic solutions. With a long-term vision to serve the aerospace, defense, and energy sectors, Fluid Wire Robotics is positioning itself as a core technology partner for mission-critical field applications.

• Company Size: 1-20 employees
• Company Type: Startup / Scaleup