Flight Software & Test Engineer

Dcubed; Johnstown (CO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Dcubed in Colorado is seeking a Flight Software & Test Engineer to design, implement, and evolve onboard flight software for our payloads and spacecraft. You will own the software architecture, define mission modes, data handling, and FDIR, and collaborate with avionics, systems engineering, and integration teams to deliver reliable, testable software.

New graduates with space software experience welcome. The role emphasizes hands-on testing, lab validation, and clear software interfaces within

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Embedded Systems, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• New graduates welcome with flight/software or spacecraft software experience.
• Experience developing software for space, aerospace, or safety-critical systems.
• Experience working in small teams.
• Proficiency in C/C++, Python, and ARM-based microcontrollers; familiarity with Git, CI, and testing frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Design and own the flight software architecture for payloads and spacecraft.
• Define ConOps, mission modes and state machines.
• Implement flight software covering mission logic, data handling, storage, and downlink.
• Command handling and fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR).
• Interfaces to avionics hardware, sensors, and actuators.
• Adapt and extend vendor-provided onboard computer software, and progressively reduce reliance on proprietary stacks.
• Define software interfaces and abstractions in close collaboration with avionics colleagues.
• Provide recommendations to systems engineering.
• Hands-on software loading, testing, debugging, and validation in the lab and during integration.
• Define software-related documentation, interfaces, and test procedures.
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert for flight software activities within the avionics and missions teams.

Skills

Flight software

C/C++

Python

CMake

Git

CI/testing

ARM-based microcontrollers

Small teams

Education

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering / Embedded Systems / Electrical Engineering

Tools

Git

CMake

CI

Testing frameworks

Job description

As a Flight Software & Test Engineer, you are responsible for the design, hands-on testing, implementation, and evolution of onboard flight software for Dcubed’s payloads and spacecraft. You define a robust flight software architecture covering mission logic, modes, data handling, communications, and autonomy, taking into account the constraints of space operations. You work closely with our Embedded Avionics Engineer, Systems Engineering, and Avionics Integration Team to ensure reliable, testable, and mission-ready software.

What you will do

• Design and own the flight software architecture for payloads and spacecraft
• Define software concepts of operations (ConOps), mission modes and state machines
• Implement flight software covering:

-Mission logic and mode handling (safe mode, commissioning, nominal, debugging, etc.)

-Data acquisition, handling, storage, and downlink

-Command handling and fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR)

-Interfaces to avionics hardware, sensors, and actuators

• Adapt and extend vendor-provided onboard computer software, and progressively reduce reliance on proprietary stacks
• Define software interfaces and abstractions in close collaboration with avionics colleagues
• Provide recommendations to systems engineering
• Hands-on software loading, testing, debugging, and validation in the lab and during integration
• Define software-related documentation, interfaces, and test procedures
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert for flight software activities within the avionics and missions teams.

Must-haves

• Education: Bachelor's of Science in Software Engineering, Embedded Systems, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• You can be newly graduated with experience in flight software, embedded software, or spacecraft software
• Experience developing software for space, aerospace, or other safety-critical systems
• Experience working in small teams
• Technologies: Structured programming (C/C++ / Python / CMake) with git, testing frameworks, CI. Experience with ARM-based microcontrollers.

About Us

Dcubed is a fast-growing NewSpace company headquartered in Germering/Munich which accelerates space exploration through durable and affordable space hardware. Our easy-to-use and readily available space mechanisms and subsystems (solar arrays, deployable structures) have flown over a dozen times to space and are used by many of the leading space companies in the world. We are an inclusive workplace where all are welcome (f/m/d).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Dcubed is an Equal Opportunity (EO) employer and recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, or other protected status under applicable law.