Senior Flight Software Engineer

Frontdoor Defense; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 169,000 - 216,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Long-term cash awards

Job summary

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Senior Flight Software Engineer to define spacecraft behavior in orbit and develop reliable software for flight operations. The role covers end-to-end software development—from requirements capture to testing and flight support—writing bare-metal, RTOS, or Linux-based code in C++.

Required 5+ years in spacecraft or safety-critical software, with a Bachelor's degree in a technical field.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a technical field and safety-critical software experience.
• 5+ years of experience in spacecraft or safety-critical software development.
• Proficient in C++ with strong language concepts.

Responsibilities

• Develop reliable flight software for spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule across mission phases.
• Write bare-metal, RTOS, or Linux-based embedded software in C++.
• Own all aspects of software development from design to integration.
• Scope projects with requirements capture and design trades for open-ended problems.
• Ensure software quality and performance through V&V techniques.
• Collaborate effectively with teammates and problem-solve in a team setting.

Skills

C++

Python

Rust

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent

Tools

CCSDS telemetry/telecommand

F' or cFS framework

SPI

I2C

CAN

EtherCAT

Job description

Senior Flight Software Engineer

Develop reliable flight software for Varda's spacecraft and reentry capsules

Location: El Segundo, California

Compensation: $169,067 - 216,031 USD / year

About The Role

Senior Flight Software Engineer

The Senior Flight Software Engineer is responsible for determining how our spacecraft behaves and operates in orbit and building reliable software to ensure it happens. The team is responsible for all phases of development, starting from requirements capture through testing and flight operational support.

Responsibilities

• Develop reliable flight software that determine how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate throughout the entire mission.
• Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based software for embedded processors in C++.
• Own all aspects of software development, from design, testing, and integration.
• Scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems.
• Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) technique.
• Teamwork, communicate and problem solve in a collaborative environment.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent technical experience in safety critical software.
• 5+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software.
• Experience with development in C++, along with a strong understanding of the language concepts.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• End-to-end experience building and launching a spacecraft.
• Experience developing and testing real-time embedded systems.
• Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications.
• Experience with CCSDS telemetry and telecommand system.
• Experience with F' or cFS framework.
• Experience with Python, or Rust.
• Knowledge of basic analog and digital electronics.
• Familiarity with SPI, I2C, CAN, EtherCAT.

Pay Range

• Salary range: Senior Software Engineer: $169,067 - $216,031/ per year.
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire 'U.S. persons' who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.'US person' means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.