Flight Software Engineer - Embedded Systems & Communications

Approach Venture; Golden (MS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Medical coverage

Paid time off

Job summary

Approach Venture seeks a Flight Software Engineer to build the flight software and communications infrastructure for distributed spacecraft systems. The role blends embedded Linux, real-time software, and networking across multiple compute and avionics configurations.

You will develop core software, interfaces, device drivers, and testing pipelines; work with RF and onboard hardware; and participate in flight testing with avionics, controls, and hardware teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or equivalent technical experience.
• 5+ years of relevant embedded software experience for senior-level consideration.
• Strong proficiency with C/C++ and/or C; working knowledge of Python.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the core flight software platform used across spacecraft systems.
• Build embedded software frameworks and interfaces connecting vehicle subsystems.
• Develop hardware abstraction layers for multiple compute and avionics configurations.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Networking fundamentals

Embedded Linux

Debugging hardware/software

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE or equivalent

Tools

Wireshark

Yocto/Buildroot

DDS platforms

Job description

Flight Software Engineer - Build the flight software, embedded platform, and communications infrastructure behind a new generation of distributed spacecraft systems.

Golden, Colorado | On-site

Opportunity Summary

This role sits at the intersection of embedded software, flight computing, communications, and avionics. You will help build the core software platform that runs the spacecraft while also supporting the networking and communication systems that allow multiple vehicles and ground systems to exchange data reliably. The work spans embedded Linux, low-level firmware, real-time software, networking, messaging middleware, RF interfaces, and hardware integration. It is a hands‑on role for an engineer who enjoys working close to the hardware and solving problems across the full software stack.

About Us

We are a venture‑backed space technology company developing advanced modular spacecraft systems designed to operate together in orbit. The team is small, highly technical, and progressing from development and demonstration toward operational systems. Engineers work closely across software, avionics, controls, RF, and hardware with meaningful ownership over systems that will ultimately fly in space.

Job Duties

• Develop and maintain the core flight software platform used across spacecraft systems
• Build embedded software frameworks and interfaces that connect vehicle subsystems
• Develop hardware abstraction layers to support multiple compute and avionics configurations
• Configure and maintain embedded and real‑time Linux environments
• Develop low‑level firmware for sensors, actuators, and spacecraft hardware
• Interface with hardware using UART, SPI, I2C, and other embedded protocols
• Build deterministic and real‑time software for hardware control
• Own portions of the spacecraft communication and networking stack
• Develop publish/subscribe messaging infrastructure and associated message schemas
• Configure communication reliability and quality‑of‑service behavior
• Implement IP networking, routing, multicast, addressing, and time synchronization
• Support communication between distributed vehicles and ground systems
• Develop software interfaces supporting RF and onboard communication hardware
• Build and improve software testing, CI, provisioning, and deployment infrastructure
• Integrate new compute boards and avionics hardware into the flight software environment
• Troubleshoot issues spanning software, networking, RF, and hardware
• Partner closely with avionics, controls, systems, and hardware engineers through integration and flight testing

Qualifications

• Degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or equivalent technical experience
• 5+ years of relevant experience for senior‑level consideration
• Strong proficiency with C++ and/or C
• Working knowledge of Python
• Strong understanding of how software interacts with processors, memory, peripherals, and hardware
• Experience developing and debugging embedded Linux systems
• Familiarity with device drivers and low‑level hardware interfaces
• Experience with networking fundamentals including IP, routing, and multicast
• Experience diagnosing network behavior using tools such as Wireshark
• Experience with messaging or publish/subscribe middleware
• Experience working with serialized data, interface definitions, or message schemas
• Comfortable debugging complex issues across software and hardware

Preferred Experience

• Experience with aerospace or robotics flight software frameworks such as F Prime
• Experience with DDS platforms such as Fast DDS, RTI Connext, or Cyclone DDS
• Familiarity with DDS quality‑of‑service configuration and tuning
• Experience with dynamic or mesh networking protocols
• Experience with IPv6
• Familiarity with spacecraft telemetry and command standards such as CCSDS
• Knowledge of NTP, PTP, or other precision time synchronization methods
• Familiarity with RF communications or software‑defined radios
• Microcontroller development experience with STM32 or similar platforms
• Experience with RTOS or bare‑metal firmware
• Experience with Yocto, Buildroot, or similar embedded Linux build systems
• Knowledge of real‑time scheduling, CPU affinity, and latency optimization
• Experience with CMake, embedded CI pipelines, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testing
• Previous experience with spacecraft, robotics, autonomous systems, or other distributed embedded platforms

Why Join Us

• Own critical software spanning flight computing, embedded systems, and spacecraft communications
• Work across software, avionics, RF, controls, and hardware rather than operating within a narrow software silo
• Join a small engineering team where individual contributors have significant technical ownership
• Help define the software architecture and development infrastructure as the company scales
• Work directly on systems progressing toward flight and operational deployment
• Equity participation through stock options
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Short- and long‑term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Three weeks of paid vacation
• Ten or more paid holidays annually

Compensation Details

$120,000 - $170,000