Flight Software Architect

Axiom Space; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Axiom Space is seeking a seasoned Flight Software Architect to craft real-time, safety-critical aerospace software for the Commercial Space program in Houston, TX. The role targets individuals with 15+ years in mission-critical software and deep expertise in embedded systems, RTOS, and C/C++/Rust.

You will define architectures, verify designs, and guide integration and testing in a collaborative, fast-moving environment while ensuring high-quality, reliable software for spaceflight applications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/CE or related field.
• 15+ years in mission critical software development, aerospace preferred.
• Experience designing, deploying and supporting flight control systems or similar.
• Real-time embedded system development lifecycle experience.
• Build automation, CI, configuration management and deployment experience.
• Ability to deliver under tight deadlines in ambiguous environments.
• Strong problem solving and proactive judgment.

Responsibilities

• Define flight software architectures for real-time safety-critical systems.
• Collaborate on software requirements, architectures and designs; lead verification.
• Oversee fault-tolerant flight software for autonomous space vehicle control.
• Integrate software components and perform unit tests; validate in HIL.
• Lead technical documentation for architecture, design and verification.
• Operate as a technical leader with no direct reports.
• Communicate progress, status, and issues to stakeholders and leadership.
• Implement and maintain agile project management methodologies.

Skills

Embedded systems architectures

RTOS

C/C++

Rust (safety-critical)

Flight software design

Network protocols TCP/IP UDP

Redundancy management

Linux environments

Aerospace/defense programs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering

15+ years in mission critical software, aerospace preferred

Equivalent education + experience considered

Job description

Axiom Space is a human space exploration company, building era-defining space infrastructure and delivering technology-driven solutions that will empower civilization to transcend Earth. Beginning with Axiom Station, successor to the International Space Station, the company is pioneering a next-generation orbital settlement that will foster groundbreaking innovation and research in microgravity and drive the global space economy of tomorrow. Today, guided by the vision of leading humanity's expansion off planet, Axiom Space is the principal provider of commercial human spaceflight services and developer of advanced spacesuits for the Moon and beyond. For more information about Axiom Space, visit www.axiomspace.com .

Axiom Space fosters a work environment inclusive of all perspectives. We are the pioneers of commercial space, leading the transformation of low-Earth orbit into a global space marketplace. Our mission-driven team is seeking a bold and dynamic **Flight Software Architect** who is fueled by high ownership, execution horsepower, growth mindset, and driven to understand our world, science/technology, and life itself, for the benefit of all on Earth and beyond.

POSITION SUMMARY

We are looking for a resilient, high-energy, experienced Flight Software Architect with deep technical expertise in systems-level thinking and a background in aerospace domain knowledge who will be responsible for architecting our aerospace software applications for the Axiom Space Commercial Space program in Houston, TX. Candidates with a solid foundation in translating mission requirements into software architecture are encouraged to apply.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define flight software architectures to build robust real-time safety-critical software systems.
• Collaborate with teams to define software requirements, architectures, and designs and lead verification, to ensure software products meet requirements and safety-critical standards.
• Oversee development of fault tolerant flight software responsible for the overall command and control of an autonomous space vehicle.
• Oversee efforts to integrate software components, create and run unit tests, validate on Hardware-in-the-Loop and release real-time embedded solutions.
• Lead and contribute to technical documentation for architecture, design, verification plans.
• This is a technical leadership role with no direct reports.
• Communicating project progress, status, and potential issues to stakeholders and leadership.
• Implement and maintain agile project management methodologies throughout the project lifecycle.
• Perform additional job duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, or Computer Engineering, or related field.
• 15+ years' experience in mission critical software development, preferably in aerospace.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Experience designing, deploying and supporting flight control systems (or similar complexity).
• Experience in development of real-time embedded system, including system design, analysis, development, implementation, integration, verification, qualification, and release.
• Experience in build automation, continuous integration, configuration management, verification, deployment of software.
• Track record of delivering outcomes in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Uses good judgement to problem-solve proactively, positively impacting hard challenges.
• Proven to deliver high quality results under tight deadlines.

Skills

• Familiarity with embedded systems architectures (bare-metal & RTOS-based systems)
• Familiarity with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS)
• Understanding of C/C++, Rust for safety-critical systems
• Familiarity with flight software design for spacecraft, launch vehicles, UAVs, or avionics
• Strong understanding of network protocols, including TCP/IP and UDP
• Familiarity with spacecraft communications protocols is preferred
• Knowledge of redundancy management & high-reliability architectures
• Exposure to software development in Linux environments
• Experience supporting aerospace or defense programs

Core Competencies:

• Accountability
• Technical Rigor
• Execution Discipline
• Pride of Delivery

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on the task.

Requirements

• Must be able to com