Principal Flight Software Engineer

EVONA; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company stock options

Comprehensive benefits package (health

Comprehensive benefits package (health

Job summary

EVONA in the United States is seeking a Principal Flight Software Engineer to lead spacecraft flight software for a fast-moving satellite program. You will own architecture, real-time control, and in-orbit operations within a small high-impact team.

The role requires extensive embedded C/C++ experience, hands-on debugging, and collaboration across GNC, hardware, and mission operations. NASA cFS familiarity and a track record of delivering multiple flight software systems are highly valued.

Qualifications

• 9+ years of industry experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 7+ years with a Master's.
• Satellite or spacecraft flight software experience with potential tech lead ownership.
• Strong hands-on C programming and C++.
• Experience developing multiple flight software systems.
• Open-source software interfacing and integration experience.
• Ability to adapt to changing requirements and fast iteration cycles.
• Familiarity with software configuration management and defect tracking.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for customer-facing reviews.

Responsibilities

• Act as technical leader for spacecraft flight software, from architecture to in-orbit operations.
• Write embedded C code for real-time command and control of the satellite.
• Work within the NASA cFS framework.
• Review code and designs for efficiency, stability and scalability.
• Hands-on development and troubleshooting of software systems and hardware.
• Support software QA and optimize I/O performance.
• Support integration, test and mission operations.
• Collaborate with GNC, hardware and mission operations teams.
• Assess third-party/open-source software for platform use.
• Present design reviews to customers and leadership; mentor junior engineers.

Skills

C programming

C++

Embedded systems

Flight software

NASA cFS

Multi-threading

Code reviews

Open-source integration

GNC collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE/CE

Master's degree (advantage)

Job description

Building satellites is one thing. Commanding and controlling them once they are in orbit is another.

We are working with a high growth American aerospace and defence communications company that designs, manufactures and tests advanced communication systems and satellites entirely in US facilities. This is a business scaling fast, with more customer demand across government, defence and commercial aerospace than they can currently handle.

Their flagship satellite programme launches its first mission in October this year, with 8 launches secured through 2029. It is one of the largest, most powerful LEO satellites being built.

They are now looking for a Principal Flight Software Engineer to act as technical leader for spacecraft flight software on this programme. This is a small, high impact team building many systems from scratch, working in a fast-iteration environment where requirements evolve and engineers own real subsystems rather than a slice of one.

What you'll be doing:

• Acting as technical leader for spacecraft flight software, from architecture through to in-orbit operations
• Writing embedded C code from scratch for real-time command and control of the satellite
• Working within the NASA cFS (Core Flight System) framework
• Reviewing code and system designs, and analysing code for efficiency, stability and scalability
• Hands-on development and troubleshooting of software systems and hardware, including motors and power distribution units
• Supporting software quality assurance and optimising I/O performance
• Supporting integration, test and mission operations
• Working closely with GNC, hardware and mission operations teams
• Assessing third-party and open-source software for use across the platform
• Presenting design review material to customers and the executive team, and contributing to proposal-writing efforts
• Mentoring junior engineers and acting as a subject matter expert across the software team

What we're looking for:

• 9+ years of industry experience with a Bachelor's degree, or 7+ years with a Master's, in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
• Satellite or spacecraft flight software experience, ideally with prior tech lead or subsystem ownership
• Strong hands-on C programming
• C++
• Experience developing multiple flight software systems
• Hands-on development and troubleshooting of software systems and hardware
• Comfortable working with changing requirements and fast iteration cycles
• Experience interfacing a variety of open-source software to create an integrated system
• Familiarity with software configuration management tools, defect tracking tools and peer review
• Excellent understanding of multi-threaded applications and resource management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, this role includes customer facing design reviews

Nice to have:

• Experience with NASA cFS specifically
• Experience operating systems you have built through to production
• Broader embedded systems experience across C and C++
• Familiarity with ARM processors and fully-featured microcontrollers
• Experience with satellite operations or mission data systems, including COSMOS
• Experience designing and developing a Software Development Kit (SDK)
• Ability to read electronics schematics and component data sheets
• Be part of a confirmed, launching mission, not a roadmap promise
• Small team structure with genuine ownership of systems end to end
• Full-time employment includes company stock options and a generous benefits package covering health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans

Please note: due to US Government Space Technology Export Regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, conditional resident, asylee or refugee, or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorisations from the U.S. Department of State.