Flight Software Engineer

Executive Recruiting Group; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Executive Recruiting Group is seeking a Flight Software Engineer to architect, develop, and own the onboard software stack for next-gen aerospace vehicles. You’ll partner with guidance, navigation, and controls, avionics, and autonomy teams to design real-time software for mission sequencing, fault handling, telemetry, and closed-loop control.

You will lead architecture, interfaces to sensors/actuators, SITL/HITL validation, and robust safety-critical behavior while mentoring junior engineers

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field is required.
• 5+ years designing, implementing, and testing embedded or flight software.
• Experience with C/C++ for embedded real-time systems; familiarity with Rust and Python.
• Hands-on firmware development for microcontrollers or embedded processors with RTOS.
• Experience with software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Knowledge of fault management, safety-critical state machines, and real-time constraints.
• U.S. citizenship with eligibility for government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and implementation of flight software subsystems.
• Integrate GNC algorithms into real-time embedded environments.
• Define interfaces to sensors, actuators, and communications, including low-level drivers.
• Develop SITL/HITL, Monte Carlo analyses, and data playback for validation.
• Oversee hazard analyses, fault containment, watchdogs, safe modes, and redundancy.
• Collaborate on software requirements, ICDs, and verification plans for flight-critical functions.
• Lead code reviews, integration, and debugging on embedded targets with cross-functional teams.
• Support flight test campaigns, telemetry monitoring, anomaly investigation, and data analysis.
• Mentor junior engineers and establish best practices for coding and configuration management.

Skills

C

C++

Rust

Python

RTOS

embedded

CI/CD

version control

SITL

HITL

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace/Computer/Electrical Eng or related

Master's or PhD (preferred)

Tools

testbeds

simulators

GNC algorithms

CV/CI pipelines

IPC/ICD interfaces

Job description

We are seeking a Flight Software Engineer to architect, develop, and own the onboard software stack for next-generation aerospace vehicles. You will work closely with Guidance, Navigation, and Controls, avionics, and autonomy teams to design and implement real-time flight software responsible for mission sequencing, fault management, telemetry, and closed-loop control.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of flight software subsystems including mode management, fault detection/isolation/recovery (FDIR), command and telemetry handling, and health monitoring.
• Work with GNC and avionics to integrate guidance, navigation, and control algorithms into real-time, resource-constrained environments using RTOS-based frameworks.
• Define and implement interfaces to sensors, actuators, and communication links (e.g., IMUs, RF links, propulsion, power systems) including low-level drivers and middleware.
• Develop and maintain simulation and test infrastructure, including software-in-the-loop (SITL), hardware-in-the-loop (HITL), Monte Carlo analysis, and recorded flight data playback to validate flight software performance and robustness.
• Own flight software reliability and safety: perform hazard analyses, define fault containment strategies, implement watchdogs, safe modes, and redundancy management.
• Collaborate with vehicle engineering to define software requirements, architecture documents, ICDs, and verification plans for flight-critical functionality.
• Lead code reviews, integration efforts, and debugging sessions on embedded targets with cross-functional teams (GNC, avionics, payloads, ground software).
• Support integration and flight test campaigns, including pre-flight readiness, real-time telemetry monitoring, anomaly investigation, and post-flight data analysis.
• Mentor and guide junior flight software engineers, establish best practices for coding standards, testing, and configuration management for flight-critical systems.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or another relevant field.
• 5+ years of experience designing, implementing, and testing embedded or flight software for aerospace, defense, or autonomous systems.
• Strong experience with C and/or C++ for embedded, real-time systems; familiarity with Rust and Python for tools, test, or infrastructure.
• Hands-on experience developing software for microcontrollers or embedded processors, including working with RTOSes, interrupts, and hardware interfaces (e.g., UART, CAN, Ethernet).
• Demonstrated experience with software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing, including building and using testbeds and simulators for flight software validation.
• Experience implementing fault management, mode logic, and safety-critical state machines in operational systems.
• Strong understanding of real-time constraints, concurrency, and resource management (CPU, memory, and timing budgets) in embedded environments.
• Experience with configuration management, version control, and CI/CD pipelines for embedded software.
• U.S. citizen with eligibility for government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or another relevant field.
• 8+ years of experience in flight software or safety-critical embedded systems for launch vehicles, spacecraft, UAVs, or advanced aerospace platforms.
• Experience integrating advanced GNC algorithms into flight software, including MIMO feedback, trajectory following, and mission sequencing.
• Familiarity with aerospace software standards and processes (e.g., NASA/ESA standards, DO-178C, ECSS, or similar safety-critical frameworks).
• Experience with telemetry systems, ground software interfaces, and operational concepts for flight missions.
• Background in building and operating end-to-end mission software stacks, from embedded flight code to ground tools and monitoring systems.
• Experience with formal verification, static analysis tools, or rigorous validation approaches for high-reliability software.
• Prior leadership experience guiding teams of embedded/flight software engineers on complex, multi-vehicle or multi-mission programs.