Embedded Payload Software Engineer — Spaceflight

Intuitive Machines, LLC; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Intuitive Machines is seeking an Embedded Payload Software Engineer in Houston to design, implement, and test flight software for payloads and spacecraft subsystems. The role involves collaborating with hardware teams and payload customers to define interfaces and ensure robust software integration for challenging space missions.

The candidate will contribute across the software lifecycle, draft tests, and ensure high-quality deliverables in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications

• B.S. in physics or engineering.
• 3+ years of C/C++ development experience.
• 3+ years hardware/software integration.
• Experience with serial communication protocols (RS-232, RS-422, RS-485).
• Familiar with real-time operating systems.
• Familiar with packetized protocols (IP/UDP, IP/TCP).
• Strong software quality and testing mindset.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work with payload customers.
• Self-starting and problem-solving mindset.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.
• Passion for spaceflight.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and maintain embedded flight software features and improvements
• Analyze, test and perform I/O performance assessments upon integrated hardware/software solutions
• Interface with hardware design and development
• Draft unit/integration tests and coordinate high-level testing of features
• Organize and develop software interface control documents with payload customers
• Work with payload customers to design, define, develop, integrate and test software interfaces for their payloads

Skills

C/C++ development

Hardware/software integration

Serial communications (RS-232/RS-422/0

Real-time operating systems

IP/UDP/IP/TCP networking

Software quality & testing

Written and verbal communication

Self-starting & problem solving

Ability to work in fast-paced env.

Passion for spaceflight

Payload customer interfacing

Education

B.S. in physics or engineering

Tools

GSFC Core Flight Software (CFS) framework

Device driver implementations

Rust

Docker-based containerization

Windows and POSIX-based operating systems

Gitflow / configuration management

Job description

Intuitive Machines is seeking an Embedded Payload Software Engineer in Houston to design, implement, and test flight software for payloads and spacecraft subsystems. The role involves collaborating with hardware teams and payload customers to define interfaces and ensure robust software integration for challenging space missions.

The candidate will contribute across the software lifecycle, draft tests, and ensure high-quality deliverables in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.