Flight Software Engineer

Darwin Recruitment; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

A spacecraft technology company in Los Angeles is seeking a hands-on Flight Software Architect to own the architecture from design through testing on real hardware.

You will build and maintain the flight software architecture, write drivers for FPGAs and GPIOs, interface with peripherals, manage CI/CD pipelines in GitLab, and run test campaigns on flatsat testbeds and flight units while coordinating with other engineers.

Qualifications

• Degree in computer science, engineering or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Five or more years of core flight software experience in aerospace, hands-on with spacecraft code and test.
• Proven track record leading flight software development on satellites.
• Proficiency in Python, C/C++, and embedded Linux.
• Experience with hardware protocols I2C, CAN, UART, RS485.
• Experience interfacing software with FPGAs and GPIOs.
• GitLab and CI/CD workflows.
• US person, eligible for DoD Top Secret clearance (sponsorship available).

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain the spacecraft flight software architecture, adding components and protocols for mission specific payloads.
• Own core system functions including telemetry collection, precise time stamping, rate group scheduling and bus communications.
• Write drivers and logic to interface with FPGAs and GPIOs, and make the volatile versus non-volatile memory decisions that protect data integrity.
• Develop boot behaviours, partition swapping logic and fail safe recovery modes.
• Manage the codebase and CI/CD pipelines in GitLab.
• Run test campaigns on flatsat testbeds and flight units.
• Provide technical direction to other engineers and work across teams to integrate subsystems with the main compute element.

Skills

Python

C/C++

Embedded Linux

Hardware protocols

FPGA interfacing

GitLab CI/CD

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering

Equivalent practical experience

Job description

We are working with a spacecraft technology company in Los Angeles that designs and builds custom satellites for government and prime contractor customers. Small engineering team, funded, with hardware already flying. This is a hands on ownership role, not a supervisory one.

The role

You will own the flight software architecture and take it all the way through to test on real hardware.

• Build and maintain the spacecraft flight software architecture, adding components and protocols for mission specific payloads
• Own core system functions including telemetry collection, precise time stamping, rate group scheduling and bus communications
• Write drivers and logic to interface with FPGAs and GPIOs, and make the volatile versus non volatile memory decisions that protect data integrity
• Develop boot behaviours, partition swapping logic and fail safe recovery modes
• Manage the codebase and CI/CD pipelines in GitLab
• Run test campaigns on flatsat testbeds and flight units
• Provide technical direction to other engineers and work across teams to integrate subsystems with the main compute element

What you need

• Degree in computer science, engineering or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
• Five or more years of core flight software experience in aerospace, hands on with spacecraft code and test
• A track record of leading flight software development on satellites, not just contributing to it
• Python, C and C++, and embedded Linux
• Hardware level protocols such as I2C, CAN, UART and RS485
• Experience interfacing software with FPGAs and GPIOs
• GitLab and CI/CD workflows
• US person, willing and eligible to obtain a DoD Top Secret security clearance. You do not need to hold one already, as sponsorship is available

Nice to have

• FPrime or cFS
• Memory management, file systems and bootloader development
• Clean room and ESD experience
• Advanced degree in a relevant field

What is on offer

Medical, dental and vision paid by the company for the employee, flexible vacation, 401k matching, holiday pay, and pregnancy, family and military service leave. Interview travel and relocation are covered. Full ownership of the flight software in a team small enough that your work is visible at company level, with a fast, decisive interview process.