Principal Flight Software Engineer

True Anomaly, Inc.; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 190,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Flexible time off

Lunch provided

401(k)

Dog Fridays

Equity

Job summary

True Anomaly, Inc. seeks a Principal Flight Software Engineer to own the flight software stack across spacecraft systems. You will shape architecture, drive standards, and lead development from concept to on-orbit operations, influencing program direction and technical excellence.

Join a mission-focused team near Denver, with opportunities to define interfaces, build robust simulation environments, and mentor cross-functional engineers in a high-stakes space environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or related field.
• 15+ years of experience with embedded systems, low-level firmware architecture, and safety-critical software.
• Demonstrated ownership of FSW architecture on delivered space or safety-critical programs.
• Deep expertise in low-level device driver development and real-time embedded systems.
• Hands-on experience with embedded RTOS platforms such as RTLinux or Azure RTOS.
• Strong command of communication protocols including Ethernet, SPI, I2C, CAN, RS422, and RS485.
• Expert-level proficiency in C/C++; proficiency in Python.
• Ability to maintain or obtain TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own the architecture and technical direction of flight software for space missions, including on-board computers, processing units, and associated systems.
• Lead the design and development of robust, safety-critical embedded software with a focus on long-term maintainability and mission reliability.
• Drive integration of complex GNC algorithms with flight software, collaborating closely with the GNC team to ensure correctness and performance.
• Define and maintain the Command Telemetry Database (CTDB) architecture to support ground and on-orbit test and operations.
• Establish and enforce software engineering standards including coding practices, design patterns, and verification and validation approaches.
• Partner with the ground C2 software team to align interfaces, data flows, and operational concepts across the full system.
• Architect and lead development of HITL and SITL simulation environments for subsystem and full-vehicle testing.
• Design and own reusable device driver and communications protocol libraries across flight hardware platforms.
• Serve as a key technical voice in design reviews, architecture discussions, and cross-functional planning.

Skills

Embedded systems

FSW ownership

C/C++

Python

RTOS experience

Firmware development

Networking protocols

Clearance TS/SCI

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE/CE

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

RTLinux

Azure RTOS

Embedded Linux

GCC/IDEs/Debuggers

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset.We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take?We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

BENEFITS & PERKS *

• Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, with HSA/HRA options
• Generous time off: Flexible Time Off (FTO) for exempt employees, accrued PTO of up to 25 days for non-exempt employees, plus 12 paid holidays; Parental Leave; Sick Leave
• Fuel for your day: Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks for in-office employees
• And more: 401(k) retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, and Dog Fridays
• Equity participation: Equity is included as part of our total compensation package, giving you an opportunity to share in the company’s success.

*Do not apply to fixed term and temporary roles

YOUR MISSION

As a Principal Flight Software Engineer at True Anomaly, you will serve as a technical authority across the full spacecraft software stack, shaping architecture decisions, setting engineering standards, and driving the development of flight software from concept through on-orbit operations. You will own hard problems, influence program-level direction, and raise the technical bar for the team around you. If you are looking for a role where your decisions have real consequences in space, this is it.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the architecture and technical direction of flight software for space missions, including on-board computers, processing units, and associated systems
• Lead the design and development of robust, safety-critical embedded software with a focus on long-term maintainability and mission reliability
• Drive integration of complex GNC algorithms with flight software, collaborating closely with the GNC team to ensure correctness and performance
• Define and maintain the Command Telemetry Database (CTDB) architecture to support ground and on-orbit test and operations
• Establish and enforce software engineering standards including coding practices, design patterns, and verification and validation approaches
• Partner with the ground C2 software team to align interfaces, data flows, and operational concepts across the full system
• Architect and lead development of HITL and SITL simulation environments for subsystem and full-vehicle testing
• Design and own reusable device driver and communications protocol libraries across flight hardware platforms
• Serve as a key technical voice in design reviews, architecture discussions, and cross-functional planning

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or related field
• 15+ years of experience with embedded systems, low-level firmware architecture, and safety-critical software
• Demonstrated ownership of FSW architecture on delivered space or safety-critical programs
• Deep expertise in low-level device driver development and real-time embedded systems
• Hands-on experience with embedded RTOS platforms such as RTLinux or Azure RTOS
• Strong command of communication protocols including Ethernet, SPI, I2C, CAN, RS422, and RS485
• Expert-level proficiency in C/C++; proficiency in Python
• Ability to maintain or obtain TS/SCI clearance

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or related field
• 15+ years of FSW development experience with direct contributions to on-orbit missions
• Proven ability to define and uphold engineering standards across a software organization
• Experience leading architecture reviews and driving technical decisions across multidisciplinary teams
• Familiarity with embedded Linux and networking protocols including UDP and TCP/IP
• Fluency with embedded systems toolchains, compilers, debuggers, and IDEs
• Experience with microcontrollers, application processors, and revision control systems at scale
• Advanced debugging skills using instrumentation such as oscilloscopes and protocol analyzers
• Background in robotics, automation, motor control, or sensor fusion

COMPENSATION

• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location—This is an onsite role, we are seeking candidates based near Denver, CO or Long Beach, CA.
• Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands—the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

This position will be open until it is successfully filled.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in True Anomaly’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.