Head of Software Engineering

Espace; Saratoga (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

E‑Space, located in Saratoga, is seeking a Director/VP of Software Engineering to own the complete software organization for space vehicle programs. You will drive architecture, BSP development, and flight software while partnering with CEO, CTO, and program leadership to shape the next generation of space vehicles.

The role requires deep embedded systems expertise, leadership experience managing large teams, and a track record delivering multi‑million‑dollar software programs on time and within

Qualifications

• 12+ years in software engineering with leadership experience.
• Deep embedded systems and BSP development experience.
• Proven space, defense, or safety-critical software leadership.
• Strong background in spacecraft communications software.
• Demonstrated ability to scale engineering teams in fast-paced environments.
• Active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or higher).

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the software engineering vision and roadmap for space vehicle programs.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership in embedded systems and BSP development.
• Oversee software design for spacecraft comms subsystems and C&DH systems.
• Drive make/buy decisions and software development processes at scale.
• Partner with CEO/CTO and program leadership to shape strategy and proposals.

Skills

Embedded systems

BSP development

Spacecraft communications

Engineering leadership

Executive communication

DoD/NASA experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree or PhD

Tools

SpaceWire

CCSDS

RTOS (VxWorks/RTEMS/FreeRTOS)

Embedded Linux

Job description

Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure, and actionable?

At E‑Space, we’re focused on bridging Earth and space with the world’s most sustainable low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. We’re a team of bold thinkers, ambitious leaders and dynamic doers—and we’re disrupting NewSpace by fundamentally changing the design of legacy LEO space systems to deliver entirely new satellite capabilities at a fraction of the cost. We’re intentional, unapologetically curious and 100 % committed—to saving space, protecting our planet and turning connectivity into actionable intelligence.

As Director or VP of Software Engineering

You will own the full software engineering organization for our space vehicle programs— from architecture and embedded systems to communications software and mission‑critical delivery. This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a world‑class engineering team at the forefront of commercial and government space. You will set technical vision, drive execution, and be a key voice in company strategy—partnering directly with the CEO, CTO, and program leadership to shape the next generation of space vehicles. The ideal candidate brings deep hands‑on roots in embedded systems, Board Support Package (BSP) development, and communications software—combined with the leadership presence and organizational maturity to scale a high‑performing engineering team.

Technical Leadership

• Define and drive the software engineering vision, architecture, and roadmap across all space vehicle programs.
• Provide hands‑on technical leadership in embedded systems, BSP development (bootloaders, device drivers, RTOS bring‑up), and communications software.
• Oversee software design and implementation for spacecraft comms subsystems including SpaceWire, MIL‑STD‑1553, CCSDS, and RF data link protocols.
• Own the software architecture for Command & Data Handling (C&DH) systems and mission‑critical flight software.
• Champion software quality, reliability, and compliance with applicable standards (DO‑178B/C, NASA‑STD‑8739.8, or equivalent).
• Drive hardware/software co‑design and integration with electrical, systems, and mechanical engineering teams.

People & Organizational Leadership

• Build, grow, and retain a high‑performing software engineering organization across multiple disciplines and experience levels.
• Hire, mentor, and develop engineering managers and senior/staff engineers into future technical leaders.
• Foster a culture of engineering excellence, psychological safety, and continuous improvement.
• Define career development frameworks, leveling guidelines, and performance standards for the software engineering team.
• Partner cross‑functionally with Program Management, Systems Engineering, and Operations to deliver on commitments.

Strategy & Execution

• Own software program execution—schedules, milestones, risk identification, and mitigation across all active programs.
• Represent software engineering in customer briefings, program reviews, and executive leadership meetings.
• Contribute to business development and proposal efforts—defining software technical approaches and resource estimates for new pursuits.
• Drive make/buy decisions, toolchain investments, and software development process improvements at scale.
• Build and maintain technology partnerships with key vendors, tool suppliers, and industry partners.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of software engineering experience, with 5+ years in engineering leadership (managing managers or leading organizations of 15+ engineers).
• Deep technical foundation in embedded systems and BSP development—bootloaders, device drivers, kernel bring‑up, embedded Linux and/or RTOS (VxWorks, RTEMS, FreeRTOS).
• Proven experience leading software development for space, defense, or other safety‑critical platforms.
• Strong background in communications software—protocol stacks, data link layers, or spacecraft comms subsystems.
• Demonstrated ability to build and scale engineering teams in a fast‑paced, mission‑driven environment.
• Track record of delivering complex, multi‑million‑dollar software programs on time and on budget.
• Excellent executive communication skills—able to present to customers, boards, and government stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field.
• Active U.S. Security Clearance (Secret or above).
• Experience with spacecraft C&DH (Command & Data Handling) and flight software development.
• Knowledge of CCSDS protocols and space data system standards.
• Familiarity with DO‑178B/C software certification and safety‑critical verification frameworks.
• Experience supporting DoD, NASA, or other U.S. Government space programs.
• Exposure to radiation‑tolerant or radiation‑hardened computing environments.
• Experience leading software capture strategy for large government proposals ($50M+).
• Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant engineering or computer science discipline.

Compensation & Location

This is a full‑time, exempt position based out of our Saratoga office. The target base pay for this position is $100,000 - $185,000 annually. Total compensation will be determined by various factors such as your relevant job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Additional Information

E‑Space is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role.