Senior Software Security Engineer

Rocket Lab; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company seeks a Staff Software Security Engineer, responsible for championing secure software development in compliance with U.S. Government regulations. The role involves implementing security practices and collaborating with teams to ensure the integrity of software for hardware systems. Candidates should have extensive experience in cybersecurity and familiarity with ITAR compliance, offering a competitive salary and diverse benefits.

Benefits

Equity compensation

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401k retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Unlimited sick time and paid parental leave

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in software development.
• Proven experience in software development security practices.
• Experience working with ITAR regulations and U.S. Government contracts.

Responsibilities

• Implement secure coding practices and security methodologies.
• Collaborate with software engineers for seamless integration.
• Conduct threat modeling and vulnerability analysis.

Skills

Secure software development

Cybersecurity principles

ITAR compliance

Threat modeling

Vulnerability assessment

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Tools

Git

Job description

About the role

Muon seeks a Staff Software Security Engineer to join our Security Engineering Team. The ideal candidate is a highly skilled and experienced Software Engineer with expertise in developing secure software for hardware systems, particularly within U.S. Government and ITAR-controlled environments. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the full software development lifecycle for hardware systems, a deep understanding of cybersecurity principles, and proven experience working with ITAR regulations, including the handling of ITAR-controlled technical data and payloads.

Responsibilities

• Implement and champion secure coding practices and software development security methodologies throughout the development lifecycle.
• Implement and enforce secure coding practices (e.g., SAST, DAST, threat modeling) throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Collaborate closely with software engineers to define software requirements, ensure seamless hardware/software integration, and troubleshoot complex system-level issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define software requirements, system architecture, and integration plans.
• Review and advise on the development of software for ITAR-controlled payloads, ensuring strict adherence to all applicable export control laws and company policies.
• Ensure all software development activities and deliverables comply with U.S. Government standards and ITAR regulations.
• Work extensively with ITAR systems, including managing access to controlled technical data, ensuring compliance with applicable controls and regulations.
• Conduct threat modeling, vulnerability analysis, and security code reviews to identify and mitigate potential security risks in software and systems.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive software documentation, including design specifications, test plans, verification procedures, and reports necessary for U.S. Government contracts and ITAR compliance.
• Support the integration, testing, and deployment of software solutions in laboratory and operational environments.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of software development processes, security protocols, and compliance procedures.
• Advise the organization on CMMC compliance

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in software development.
• Proven experience in software development security, including secure SDLC practices, threat modeling, and vulnerability assessment.
• Demonstrable experience writing, testing, and debugging software for hardware platforms.
• Experience with U.S. Government contracts and familiarity with government standards and procurement processes.
• In-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).
• Experience with software version control systems (e.g., Git), continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, and automated testing frameworks.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to troubleshoot complex software and hardware integration issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document technical details clearly and concisely.

Nice-to-have Skills

• Experience with specific industry standards relevant to government or aerospace/defense projects (NIST 800-series).
• Familiarity with encryption technologies and secure data handling practices.
• Experience working in Agile development environments.
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles.
• Experience implementing CMMC
• Direct experience with working in an organization that contracts with the US Government

Salary

• The salary range for this role is $180K - $215K and will depend on a candidate's skills, geographic location, qualifications, and experience as defined during the interview process.

About Muon Space

Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical data. Our revolutionary, integrated technology stack enables customers to optimize every dimension of their missions for faster time-to-orbit and superior constellation remote sensing performance. Our state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and rapid, flexible payload integration at scale. From climate monitoring to national security, Muon Space is dedicated to delivering Earth Intelligence for a safer and more resilient world.

Taking Care of Our Team

At Muon salary is only part of our total compensation package. In addition to salary, we provide equity compensation as well as benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement plan, short & long term disability and life insurance. We also offer three weeks paid vacation for new employees, along with 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time and paid parental leave.

Our mission embraces the entire planet and we believe our team should too. Muon is dedicated to creating a diverse and dynamic company and workforce. We believe in equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We value diversity in the workplace, and that starts with our applicants. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes, and we look forward to reviewing your application! In addition, if you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

ITAR/EAR Requirements

This position requires access to export controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must either be (A) a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, (B) eligible to access the export controlled information without a required export authorization, or (C) eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency. The Company may, for legitimate business reasons, decline to pursue any export licensing process.