Senior Flight Software Engineer, Space-Based Compute

Socket.dev; San Carlos (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement savings plan

Paid time off

10 paid holidays per calendar year

Paid parental leave

Relocation assistance if applicable

Daily lunch in the office and stockedk

Job summary

Cowboy Space Corp. in San Carlos, CA, is hiring a Software Engineer to build critical systems for a space-based compute platform. You’ll work across the stack—from flight and mission software to ground systems and simulations—contributing to software that must operate in highly constrained, high-reliability environments.

The role offers ownership, growth, and close collaboration with cross-functional teams across hardware and software engineering.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of software engineering experience, including internships or projects.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field.
• Proficiency in at least one systems-level language (C++, Python, or Rust).
• Exposure to embedded systems, distributed systems, robotics, or aerospace software.
• Strong fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, and system design.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test high-reliability, low-latency flight software for space platforms.
• Implement mission software for on-orbit operations including C&D handling, FDIR, and secure comms.
• Work from embedded to higher-level mission logic across the stack.
• Develop ground systems, simulations, and hardware-in-the-loop tests.
• Collaborate with hardware, GNC, and constellation ops to define interfaces.
• Maintain technical docs and participate in CI/CD pipelines for safe deployments.

Skills

C++

Python

Rust

Embedded systems

Education

BSc in CS

Tools

Linux

CI/CD

Git

Job description

Cowboy Space Corp. in San Carlos, CA, is hiring a Software Engineer to build critical systems for a space-based compute platform. You’ll work across the stack—from flight and mission software to ground systems and simulations—contributing to software that must operate in highly constrained, high-reliability environments.

The role offers ownership, growth, and close collaboration with cross-functional teams across hardware and software engineering.