Mission Software Architect

STEM Boomerang; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Equity in company

Job summary

Mantis Space in Albuquerque, NM, seeks an experienced engineer to define the mission software architecture and develop interfaces across spacecraft payloads and high‑power subsystems. You will collaborate with systems, electrical, controls, optical, and hardware engineers to ensure software supports mission objectives and timing-critical operations.

The role emphasizes embedded C/C++ development, real-time concepts, deterministic timing, and hands-on hardware-in-the-loop testing.

Qualifications

• Experience architecting embedded, real-time, or flight software for aerospace, defense, robotics, or other complex systems.
• Proficiency in embedded programming languages such as C or C++ and interfacing with sensors/actuators/hardware.
• Knowledge of deterministic timing, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and timing-critical applications.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the mission software and firmware architecture.
• Support processor and communication bus selection for routing data between sensors, processors, payloads, and actuators.
• Develop software and firmware interfaces for spacecraft payloads and distributed control systems.
• Implement mission management and command-and-control software.
• Support the execution of precision pointing and control algorithms.
• Develop interfaces with high-power electronics and laser subsystems.
• Design software for deterministic, timing-critical operations.
• Develop and integrate software/firmware that controls gimbals, fast steering mirrors, inertial measurement units, cameras, and related components.
• Define subsystem interfaces, data flows, timing requirements, and fault-management approaches.
• Support integration, hardware-in-the-loop testing, verification, and system-level troubleshooting.
• Document software architecture, interfaces, design decisions, and verification requirements.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the system lifecycle.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded software

Real-time systems

Systems thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Albuquerque, United States | Posted on 08/04/2026

Mantis Space is a venture-backed aerospace company pioneeringbreakthrough technologies to build the first energy infrastructure inspace. Headquartered in New Mexico- the cornerstone of U.S. defenseR&D and a growing hub of the nation's Space Valley- we are buildingfrom the ground up to accelerate the next generation of satellite andorbital energy infrastructure.

Our veteran-led team brings decades of leadership across space,defense, and advanced R&D, with experience at Google, Meta,AeroVironment/BlueHalo, Terran Orbital, NASA's Jet PropulsionLaboratory, the Space Telescope Science Institute, and Apple. Withdeep expertise in optics, photonics, and space systems, we aredesigning and delivering the infrastructure that will power the futureof orbital energy and advanced aerospace operations.

Why Join Us:

• Build from the ground up: Directly shape our Albuquerque laband R&D test environment.
  
• Make an impact: Your systems will enable critical research inoptics, lasers, and energy systems for space.
  
• Grow with us: Work alongside leading engineers, operators, andinvestors in a mission-driven environment.
  
• Competitive pay, full benefits, and equity in a companyshaping the future of energy and space.
  

About the Role:

In this role, you will define the mission software architecture, support processor and

communication bus selection, and develop interfaces across spacecraft payload, controls, and

high-power subsystems. You will work closely with systems, electrical, controls, optical, and

hardware engineers to ensure software and firmware support mission objectives and timing-

critical operations.

Key responsibilities

• Define and maintain the mission software and firmware architecture.
  
• Support processor and communication bus selection for routing data between sensors,
  
• processors, payloads, and actuators.
  
• Develop software and firmware interfaces for spacecraft payloads and distributed control
  
• systems.
  
• Implement mission management and command-and-control software.
  
• Support the execution of precision pointing and control algorithms.
  
• Develop interfaces with high-power electronics and high-power laser subsystems.
  
• Design software for deterministic, timing-critical operations.
  
• Develop and integrate software or firmware that controls gimbals, fast steering mirrors,
  
• inertial measurement units, cameras, photodetectors, and related components.
  
• Define subsystem interfaces, data flows, timing requirements, and fault-management
  
• approaches.
  
• Support integration, hardware-in-the-loop testing, verification, and system-level
  
• troubleshooting.
  
• Document software architecture, interfaces, design decisions, and verification requirements.
  
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the system lifecycle.
  

Requirements

• Experience architecting embedded, real-time, or flight software for aerospace, defense,
  
• robotics, or other complex systems.
  
• Strong experience developing software or firmware that interfaces directly with sensors,
  
• actuators, and electronic hardware.
  
• Experience with processor architectures, communication buses, and distributed control
  
• systems.
  
• Knowledge of deterministic timing, real-time operating systems, and timing-critical
  
• applications.
  
• Proficiency in embedded programming languages such as C or C++.
  
• Strong systems-thinking, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
  
• Ability to work onsite in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  
• Experience with spacecraft flight software, precision pointing systems, optical payloads, FPGA
  
• interfaces, or high-power laser systems is preferred.
  

Full range of competitive benefits including 100% employer paidhealth insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement plan, andunlimited PTO