Flight Software Engineer

Astrion; Albuquerque (NM); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Astrion seeks a Flight Software Engineer to support small satellite flight software development for AFRL at Kirtland AFB, NM. The role covers design, development and testing of embedded flight software for experimental missions in a collaborative, agile team environment.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of experience, strong C/C++ skills, and familiarity with real-time systems and spacecraft subsystems. Remote U.S. eligibility and hybrid work are offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in a related technical field.
• 5+ years of professional software development experience.
• Experience developing embedded or flight software in C or C++.
• Experience with satellite bus or payload software development.
• Familiarity with spacecraft subsystems and interfaces (power, comms, C&DH, ADCS).
• Experience with real-time operating systems.
• Hardware/software integration or low-level driver development.
• Scripting languages such as Python or Perl.
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Ability to produce secure, maintainable, high-quality code.
• Comfortable in small, agile engineering teams.
• Effective communicator with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Self-directed and adaptable in a research and development environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain embedded flight software for small satellite bus systems.
• Execute tasking from the AI&T lead.
• Coordinate with other flight software engineers and subsystem teams.
• Implement best practices for code quality, maintainability, and cybersecurity.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, including interface specs and user guides.
• Participate in unit testing, code reviews, and system validation.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Embedded/flight software

Real-time systems

Scripting (Python/Perl)

Debugging / problem solving

Agile / small team work

Technical communication

Self-directed R&D

Education

B.S. in Software Engineering

B.S. in Computer Science

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

VxWorks

RTEMS

Embedded systems toolchain

Job description

Overview

FlightSoftware Engineer

LOCATION:Hybrid(Kirtland AFB, NM), Remote U.S. eligible

JOB STATUS:Full-time

CLEARANCE:U.S.Citizenship,DoD Secret Clearance

TRAVEL:10%(if remote)

Astrion is seeking aFlight Software Engineerto support small satellite flight software development for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) atKirtland Air Force Base.

This engineer will contribute to the design, development, and testing ofsatellite bus softwaresupporting experimental and research missions. The role is ideal for amid- to senior-level software engineerwith experience developing embedded or flight software for spacecraft or other real-time systems.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

Education:

Bachelor of Science in one of the following or a related technical field:

• Software Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering

• Minimum5+ years of professional software development experience
• Experience developingembedded or flight software in C or C++
• Experience withsatellite bus or payload software development
• Familiarity withspacecraft subsystems and interfaces(power, communications,commandand data handling, ADCS, etc.)
• Experience working withreal-time operating systems
• Experience withhardware/software integration or low-level driver development
• Experience with scripting languages such as Python, Perl, or similar
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills
• Ability to producesecure, maintainable, high-quality code
• Comfortable working insmall, agile engineering teams
• Effective communicator with bothtechnical and non-technical stakeholders
• Self-directed and adaptable in aresearch and development environment

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

• Experience with theVxWorks real-time operating system
• Experience with other embedded real-time systems such asRTEMS
• Master’s degree in a relevant technical field

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, develop, test, andmaintainembedded flight softwarefor small satellite bus systems
• Execute tasking from the satellite Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) lead
• Coordinate with other flight software engineers and subsystem teams
• Implement best practices forcode quality, maintainability, and cybersecurity
• Develop andmaintaintechnical documentation, including interface specifications and user guides
• Participate inunit testing, code reviews, and system validation