Principal Software Integration and Test Engineer

your Jared; Denver, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship

Career growth

Comprehensive benefits

Remote work

Job summary

ALTEN Technology USA is seeking a Principal Software Engineer (Contract) to lead flight software and systems modeling for US satellite platforms. You will upgrade flight software, develop in-house analysis tools, and drive tests across units to platform level, interfacing with hardware-in-the-loop environments.

The role demands deep space hardware experience, strong C/C++ expertise, and the ability to work with cross-functional teams. Remote work is possible with travel to US facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM or related fields.
• Master's degree in STEM or related fields preferred.
• 15+ years with a Bachelor's, or 12+ years with a Master's.
• Proven track-record with space hardware and/or flight software lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Upgrade flight software for new missions.
• Develop satellite flight software for U.S. platforms.
• Create tools to analyze flight software performance for conops.
• Develop and execute flight software tests from unit to platform level.
• Support hardware integration onto the HITL/SITL test environment and flight hardware.
• Participate in anomaly resolution and patching of flight software.
• Contribute to system- and mission-level modeling and simulation tools.
• Develop software models of payloads for ground testing.
• Support software model of satellite platform and its flight software.
• Support working groups with customers and vendors.
• Assist proposal writing and new business.
• Assess software impacts of new hardware, conops, and missions.

Skills

C/C++

Embedded software

RTOS programming

Device drivers

Space cybersecurity

GNC algorithms

HITL/SITL validation

Software safety

Network topology

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

Tools

RTEMS

PetaLinux

SpaceWire

RMAP/1553

Job description

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more.

As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you’ll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

Principal Software Engineer (Contract) - Flight SW & Systems Modeling

you will be responsible for;

• Upgrade existing flight software for new missions
• Contribute to the development of new satellite flight software for U.S. satellite platforms
• Develop in-house tools to analyze flight software performance and assess its compatibility with new mission and conops
• Develop and execute flight software tests at the unit, module, subsystem, and platform level
• Work with manufacturing engineers to support installation onto the hardware-in-the-loop test environment and eventual flight hardware
• Participate in anomaly resolution activities and patch existing flight software
• Contribute to the development of systems- and mission-level modeling and simulation tools
• Develop software models of payloads for ground testing
• Support development of software model of satellite platform, particularly ensuring accurate representation of the flight software
• Support working groups, both internal and with customers and/or vendors
• Support proposal writing, new business
• Assess the software impacts of new hardware, conops, and missions

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in STEM (Science, Technical, Engineering, Math) or related scientific areas.
• Preferred: Master's in STEM (Science, Technical, Engineering, Math) or related scientific areas.

Experience

• A minimum of 15 years with a Bachelor's degree, or 12 years with a Master's degree
• Proven track-record of working with space hardware and/or flight software systems, starting from conceptual designs and tradeoffs through detailed design, development, manufacture, integration, test, deployment, and operations.

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities

• Insatiable curiosity and a demonstrated ability to learn and work independently
• Proficiency in C/C++
• Expertise in one or more of the following:
  • Embedded software development (ARM 7 preferred)
  • BSP development
  • Device driver development and software/hardware interfaces (Ethernet/CAN/SpaceWire RMAP/1553/RS-422 preferred)
  • New board bring up
  • Real-time operating systems programming, debugging, and testing (RTEMS and/or PetaLinux preferred)
  • Cybersecurity for Space Systems
  • GNC algorithms design, analysis, testing, and implementation
  • Functional validation of embedded software on HITL and/or SITL test beds
  • Software safety assurance
  • Network topology and configuration
  • Simulators: numerical, emulator, and hardware in the loop
  • Software requirements and configuration management

Travel Required

• Periodic travel (less than 20%) to U.S. facilities or partner companies
• Occasional International travel to collaborate with European counterparts

Eligibility

• US Citizenship is required

Clearance

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Government security clearance
• Active DoD security clearance at Secret or above highly desirable

Salary Range

$150K-$220K

Note

Due to the nature of the work, only US citizens need apply for this position.

Location

Can be fully remote. Preferred locations are Denver, CO, Arlington, VA, Merritt Island, FL, and Houston, TX

Equal Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.

Compliance Notice

Alten USA is a federal contractor subject to the requirements of the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and Executive Order 11246. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Drug Screening Requirement

As a federal contractor, Alten USA maintains a drug‑free workplace. All candidates selected for employment will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire.