Flight Software Engineer (Rust) Software

Front Door Defense; Virginia (MN); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Umbra is seeking a Flight Software Engineer (Rust) to lead the development of embedded flight software for our missions. You will shape software requirements, design robust architectures, write and integrate code, and own system integration and testing across multiple spacecraft subsystems.

You will mentor peers, drive thorough documentation, and ensure seamless integration of flight software with flight hardware, including unit testing for reliability and performance.

Qualifications

• Experience with Rust for embedded flight software.
• Ability to lead software integration and testing efforts.
• Experience mentoring peers and performing code reviews.
• Maintain thorough documentation of software interfaces.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary engineers to design, develop, and maintain flight and payload software.
• Implement software to interface with spacecraft subsystems and ground systems hardware.
• Develop command and control software for spacecraft operations and payloads.
• Contribute to test campaigns from unit-level to system-level testing.
• Document software operation and interfaces with other components.
• Provide guidance and mentorship on software design and reviews.

Skills

Rust programming

Embedded software

System integration testing

Documentation practices

Job description

Flight Software Engineer (Rust)

Lead the development of Rust-based flight software for Umbra missions from requirements to integration

Location: Reston, Virginia Arlington, Virginia Santa Barbara, California

About The Role

Flight Software Engineer

Umbra is an American space technology company delivering advanced systems, from sensors to spacecraft, that empower customers worldwide with unmatched access to critical information from space. Our mission is simple and ambitious: redefine space—for people, systems, and missions in every domain. Umbra's ecosystem operates through three business units: Remote Sensing (the data), Space Systems (the components), and Mission Solutions (the platforms). Together, our teams develop capabilities that deliver persistent access, resilient performance, and mission-ready solutions, advancing U.S. space leadership while keeping the world safe and informed.

Space Systems is where Umbra turns hardware and software designs into on-orbit realities; developing, implementing and iterating mission-ready core technology, while simultaneously advancing the next generation of our own satellite constellation. Space Systems is vertically integrated across the satellite architecture, thus the team designs, builds, and tests an array of critical components and subsystems, including power systems, communications, control systems, deployment hardware, avionics, and payloads, as well as the flight software, firmware and digital design solutions to support the entire hardware stack. Our focus is on first principles engineering, and our mandate is simple: it has to work when it counts. Every bolt, board, and binary is proven on our own SAR constellation, ensuring flight-proven reliability where failure is not an option.

If you want to work on cutting edge space technology while maintaining the highest standard for innovation and mission ready performance, you belong here at Umbra.

We are seeking a Flight Software Engineer who has experience in Rust programming language to take an active role in the development and delivery of embedded flight software specifically tailored for Umbra missions. In this pivotal role, you will be tasked with a range of critical responsibilities, including but not limited to the formulation and specification of software requirements, the comprehensive design of robust software architecture, and the actual writing and implementation of code. You will take lead responsibility for the essential processes of system integration and testing, ensuring that all components function seamlessly together.

In addition to your core development responsibilities, you will also be expected to provide expert guidance and mentorship in various aspects of software design, code development, and peer code reviews. Your role will include oversight of thorough documentation practices and the meticulous integration of the flight software with flight hardware, which encompasses conducting unit testing to ensure reliability and performance. Your contributions will be vital to the success of our missions, driving innovation and excellence in software engineering within our team.

This position is based on-site in either our Santa Barbara/Goleta, CA office, Arlington, VA office, or Reston, VA office.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a cross-disciplinary engineering team to design, develop, and maintain reliable, fault-tolerant flight and payload software.
• Implement software to meet requirements while managing interfaces with multiple spacecraft subsystems and ground systems hardware.
• Develop command and control software for spacecraft flight operations, payloads, and peripheral electronics.
• Participate in and contribute to test campaigns, from unit-level testing to automated system and subsystem-level testing.
• Create and maintain documentation for software operation and interfaces with other system components.
• Take on additional professional duties as assigned.