Senior Flight Software Architect – Real-Time Spacecraft

Executive Recruiting Group; Broomfield (CO); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Executive Recruiting Group is seeking a Flight Software Engineer to architect, develop, and own the onboard software stack for next-gen aerospace vehicles. You’ll partner with guidance, navigation, and controls, avionics, and autonomy teams to design real-time software for mission sequencing, fault handling, telemetry, and closed-loop control.

You will lead architecture, interfaces to sensors/actuators, SITL/HITL validation, and robust safety-critical behavior while mentoring junior engineers

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field is required.
• 5+ years designing, implementing, and testing embedded or flight software.
• Experience with C/C++ for embedded real-time systems; familiarity with Rust and Python.
• Hands-on firmware development for microcontrollers or embedded processors with RTOS.
• Experience with software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing.
• Knowledge of fault management, safety-critical state machines, and real-time constraints.
• U.S. citizenship with eligibility for government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and implementation of flight software subsystems.
• Integrate GNC algorithms into real-time embedded environments.
• Define interfaces to sensors, actuators, and communications, including low-level drivers.
• Develop SITL/HITL, Monte Carlo analyses, and data playback for validation.
• Oversee hazard analyses, fault containment, watchdogs, safe modes, and redundancy.
• Collaborate on software requirements, ICDs, and verification plans for flight-critical functions.
• Lead code reviews, integration, and debugging on embedded targets with cross-functional teams.
• Support flight test campaigns, telemetry monitoring, anomaly investigation, and data analysis.
• Mentor junior engineers and establish best practices for coding and configuration management.

Skills

C

C++

Rust

Python

RTOS

embedded

CI/CD

version control

SITL

HITL

Education

Bachelor's in Aerospace/Computer/Electrical Eng or related

Master's or PhD (preferred)

Tools

testbeds

simulators

GNC algorithms

CV/CI pipelines

IPC/ICD interfaces

Job description

Executive Recruiting Group is seeking a Flight Software Engineer to architect, develop, and own the onboard software stack for next-gen aerospace vehicles. You’ll partner with guidance, navigation, and controls, avionics, and autonomy teams to design real-time software for mission sequencing, fault handling, telemetry, and closed-loop control.

You will lead architecture, interfaces to sensors/actuators, SITL/HITL validation, and robust safety-critical behavior while mentoring junior engineers