Flight Software and Test Engineer

Dcubed GmbH; Johnstown (CO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Dcubed is seeking a Flight Software & Test Engineer to design, test, implement, and evolve onboard flight software for payloads and spacecraft. You will define robust software architecture, ConOps, mission modes, and state machines, and ensure reliable interfaces to avionics, sensors, and actuators.

You will hands-on load, test, debug, and validate software in lab and integration settings, while collaborating with avionics and systems teams to deliver mission-ready software.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's of Science in Software Engineering, Embedded Systems, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Newly graduated with experience in flight software, embedded software, or spacecraft software.
• Experience developing software for space, aerospace, or other safety-critical systems.
• Experience working in small teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and own the flight software architecture for payloads and spacecraft.
• Define software concepts of operations (ConOps), mission modes and state machines.
• Implement flight software covering mission logic and mode handling, data acquisition/storage/downlink, and command handling with FDIR.
• Interfaces to avionics hardware, sensors, and actuators.
• Adapt and extend vendor-provided onboard computer software, reducing reliance on proprietary stacks.
• Define software interfaces and abstractions in close collaboration with avionics colleagues.
• Provide recommendations to systems engineering.
• Hands-on software loading, testing, debugging, and validation in the lab and during integration.
• Define software-related documentation, interfaces, and test procedures.
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert for flight software activities within the avionics and missions teams.

Job description

As a Flight Software & Test Engineer, you are responsible for the design, hands‑on testing, implementation, and evolution of onboard flight software for Dcubed’s payloads and spacecraft. You define a robust flight software architecture covering mission logic, modes, data handling, communications, and autonomy, taking into account the constraints of space operations. You work closely with our Embedded Avionics Engineer, Systems Engineering, and Avionics Integration Team to ensure reliable, testable, and mission‑ready software.

What you will do

• Design and own the flight software architecture for payloads and spacecraft

• Define software concepts of operations (ConOps), mission modes and state machines

• Implement flight software covering:

Mission logic and mode handling (safe mode, commissioning, nominal, debugging, etc.)

Data acquisition, handling, storage, and downlink

Command handling and fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR)

Interfaces to avionics hardware, sensors, and actuators

• Adapt and extend vendor‑provided onboard computer software, and progressively reduce reliance on proprietary stacks

• Define software interfaces and abstractions in close collaboration with avionics colleagues

• Provide recommendations to systems engineering

• Hands‑on software loading, testing, debugging, and validation in the lab and during integration

• Define software‑related documentation, interfaces, and test procedures

• Act as a Subject Matter Expert for flight software activities within the avionics and missions teams.

Must-haves

• Education: Bachelor's of Science in Software Engineering, Embedded Systems, Electrical Engineering, or related field

• You can be newly graduated with experience in flight software, embedded software, or spacecraft software

• Experience developing software for space, aerospace, or other safety‑critical systems

• Experience working in small teams

Technologies

• Structured programming (C/C++ / Python / CMake) with git, testing frameworks, CI

• Experience with ARM‑based microcontrollers

The annual compensation for the role will be between $70 000-120 000, depending on the experience and skills of the selected person.

About Us

Dcubed is a fast-growing NewSpace company headquartered in Germering/Munich which accelerates space exploration through durable and affordable space hardware. Our easy‑to‑use and readily available space mechanisms and subsystems (solar arrays, deployable structures) have flown over a dozen times to space and are used by many of the leading space companies in the world. We are an inclusive workplace where all are welcome (f/m/d).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Dcubed is an Equal Opportunity (EO) employer and recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, or other protected status under applicable law.