Orbital Mission Software Architect (Embedded Real-Time)

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

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.