Lead Space Software Architect

Rocket Lab Corporation; Littleton (CO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab in Littleton, Colorado, seeks a Principal Software Engineer – TS/SCI to lead the design, development, and delivery of mission-critical software for space-based programs. You will oversee flight and ground systems, collaborate across teams, and ensure software meets stringent aerospace requirements.

Applicants should have deep embedded software experience, proficiency in C/C++, Python for testing, and a U.S. citizenship.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline.
• 12+ years of professional software development experience, including embedded systems and ground software.
• Proven expertise in architecting scalable and reliable software systems for aerospace or defense applications.
• Proficiency in C and C++ for embedded software development and Python for testing.
• Experience with both DIO and AIO (Digital and Analog Inputs and Outputs).
• Experience with integrating hardware, including implementing ICDs, and debugging.
• Experience with deriving the Flight Software architecture from the electrical design including reading a master ICD list and/or schematics.
• Experience with RF ground to space communication.
• U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements

Responsibilities

• Lead Software Architecture Design: Define and evolve the end-to-end software architecture for flight and ground systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, security, and mission success.
• Develop Flight Software: Design application software for spacecraft operating within RTOS such as VxWorks or embedded Linux, including hardware drivers for sensors and actuators.
• Build Ground Software Systems: Architect and deploy web-based ground software platforms for spacecraft operations, integrating flight and ground systems to support diverse mission profiles.
• Test and Validate Systems: Develop unit tests within a CI framework and collaborate with hardware-in-the-loop test engineers to verify software and hardware functionality.
• Collaborate and Lead: Provide technical direction and mentorship to engineering teams, align software with mission requirements.
• Support On-Orbit Operations: Ensure software performance in harsh environments and contribute to mission-critical operations.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Embedded systems

Software architecture

Hardware integration

RF communications

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or computer science

Tools

VxWorks

embedded Linux

CAN/CAN-FD

SpaceWire

Git CI/CD

Kubernetes

Job description

Rocket Lab in Littleton, Colorado, seeks a Principal Software Engineer – TS/SCI to lead the design, development, and delivery of mission-critical software for space-based programs. You will oversee flight and ground systems, collaborate across teams, and ensure software meets stringent aerospace requirements.

Applicants should have deep embedded software experience, proficiency in C/C++, Python for testing, and a U.S. citizenship.