Principal Flight Software Engineer

Menlo Ventures; Laguna Beach (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 285,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision

HRA/HSA options

401K, Parental Leave

Job summary

True Anomaly seeks a Principal Flight Software Engineer to lead the spacecraft software stack, shaping architecture decisions and engineering standards for on-orbit operations.

You will own flight software, drive GNC integration, and contribute to HITL/SITL testing environments while collaborating with cross-functional teams in an onsite capacity near the U.S. Space hub.

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 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

C/C++

RTOS concepts

Networking protocols

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

RTLinux

Azure RTOS

Ethernet

SPI

I2C

CAN

RS422/RS485

Git/Revision Control

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.

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

• Base Salary: $180,000 - $285,000
• 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-by-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.

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.