Principal Embedded Software Engineer - Spacecraft Flight

rocketlab; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, AZ seeks a Principal Embedded Software Engineer to lead flight software design for spaceborne payloads and aerospace systems.

You will mentor engineers, define software architecture, and drive requirements through deployment, with security clearance eligibility and cross‑functional collaboration across DoD/IC missions. This role offers challenging projects and rapid innovation in a mission‑driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, or computer engineering.
• 12+ years of embedded software engineering experience.
• Experience in designing complex multithreaded applications.
• Experience designing flight software.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support development of payload flight software for Space Systems programs.
• Deploy novel algorithms on Size/Weight/Power constrained sensor systems.
• Lead cross-functional teams to define technical requirements and deliver integrated solutions.
• Provide technical leadership from requirements through implementation, testing, and deployment.
• Define and influence software architecture, design patterns, interfaces, and standards for scalable solutions.
• Drive core software fundamentals of performance-oriented programming leveraging accelerator technologies.
• Mentor engineers across experience levels and foster engineering excellence.
• Support technical planning, effort estimation, risk identification, dependency management, and milestone delivery while communicating status to stakeholders.
• Be part of a team tackling challenging projects and making an impact on future space missions.

Skills

Embedded software design

Multithreaded systems

Flight software

Security clearance

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or computer engineering

Job description

Rocket Lab Optical Systems in Tucson, AZ seeks a Principal Embedded Software Engineer to lead flight software design for spaceborne payloads and aerospace systems.

You will mentor engineers, define software architecture, and drive requirements through deployment, with security clearance eligibility and cross‑functional collaboration across DoD/IC missions. This role offers challenging projects and rapid innovation in a mission‑driven environment.