Senior Flight Software Lead — Small Satellite Systems

Darwin Recruitment; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-paid medical, dental, vision

Unlimited PTO

Relocation paid

Job summary

Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer role in Los Angeles with a small satellite company seeking an owner for the full flight software stack. You will build and maintain software, develop component drivers, integrate with hardware-in-the-loop environments, and debug across embedded platforms.

Requires 5+ years experience, C/C++/Rust plus Python, Linux, Git, US citizenship with TS clearance or eligibility, onsite in LA. Nice-to-have: F Prime, cFS or MAX, ground data systems.

Qualifications

• 5+ years relevant experience (excluding internships).
• Led development of flight software flown on satellites and developed component drivers.
• Proficient in C, C++, Rust and Python for embedded/real‑time systems; Linux and Git.
• Strong CS fundamentals.
• US citizenship and Top Secret clearance or eligibility.
• Onsite in Los Angeles.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain flight software for spacecraft, including control algorithms, comms interfaces and fault management.
• Develop drivers to interface with components across the vehicle.
• Integrate with hardware in the loop test environments.
• Debug across embedded platforms and ground tools.
• Work with systems, hardware and AI&T on requirements and rapid iteration.

Skills

C

C++

Rust

Python

Embedded

Real-time

Linux

Git

CS fundamentals

Education

PhD (helpful)

Tools

F Prime

cFS

MAX

Ground data systems

Job description

Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer role in Los Angeles with a small satellite company seeking an owner for the full flight software stack. You will build and maintain software, develop component drivers, integrate with hardware-in-the-loop environments, and debug across embedded platforms.

Requires 5+ years experience, C/C++/Rust plus Python, Linux, Git, US citizenship with TS clearance or eligibility, onsite in LA. Nice-to-have: F Prime, cFS or MAX, ground data systems.