Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer – Software

CesiumAstro; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 133,908 - 160,991; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Comprehensive benefits

Retirement plans

Job summary

CesiumAstro in the United States is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer – Software to translate system-level concepts into detailed software requirements and verification strategies for embedded systems used on satellites and airborne platforms.

You will bridge Systems and Software Engineering, define software configurations, support integration, and guide verification activities across teams to ensure mission objectives are met.

Qualifications

• Experience decomposing system requirements into software-level requirements.
• Strong understanding of embedded systems and software development lifecycles.
• Experience with hardware/software interfaces and communication protocols.
• Ability to interpret system-level CONOPS for engineering execution.
• Experience creating verification plans and acceptance criteria.

Responsibilities

• Decompose customer and system requirements into verifiable software requirements.
• Maintain traceability to higher-level requirements, architecture, and CONOPS.
• Collaborate across systems, software, and hardware teams to refine requirements.
• Develop software verification descriptions, methods, and acceptance criteria.
• Plan software integration and readiness reviews with cross-functional teams.
• Mentor junior engineers in requirements quality and verification planning.

Skills

Python

C++

C

Java

Bash

Embedded systems

CONOPS interpretation

Requirements decomposition

System software lifecycle

Education

Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering / Software Engineering

Tools

Git

IDEs

Debuggers

CI/CD

Job description

To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the‑box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross‑functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands‑on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward‑thinking individuals to join our team.

The Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer – Software is responsible for translating system‑level operational concepts, customer requirements, and architecture into detailed software requirements, verification strategies, and integrated technical solutions for complex embedded systems. This role serves as a critical bridge between Systems Engineering and Software Engineering, ensuring requirements are properly decomposed, traceable, testable, and aligned to overall program objectives.

The position is organizationally aligned within the Systems Engineering function while working closely day‑to‑day with the Software Engineering team to support planning, development, integration, and verification activities. This role is instrumental in defining software verification approaches, required hardware/software configurations, and ensuring system functionality meets mission and performance objectives.

Requirements Decomposition & Flow Down

• Analyze customer, mission, and system‑level requirements and decompose them into clear, verifiable software‑level requirements.
• Ensure software requirements maintain traceability to higher‑level system requirements, architecture, and Concept of Operations (CONOPS).
• Collaborate with systems, software, and hardware teams to refine requirements for completeness, feasibility, and technical accuracy.
• Support requirements management processes, baseline control, and change impact assessments.
• Identify requirement gaps, ambiguities, and risks early in the development lifecycle.

Verification Planning & Validation

• Develop software verification approach including verification descriptions, methods (test, analysis, demonstration, inspection), levels, and acceptance criteria aligned to system and program requirements.
• Identify required verification configurations, including hardware setups, software loads, firmware versions, and test environments.
• Support verification cross‑reference matrices (VCRM), traceability matrices, and evidence packages.
• Partner with test and software teams to ensure efficient execution of planned verification activities.

Systems & Software Integration

• Serve as a technical liaison between Systems Engineering and Software Engineering teams.
• Support software integration planning, readiness reviews, and release coordination.
• Evaluate impacts of software changes to system behavior, interfaces, and verification scope.
• Participate in architecture, design, and interface reviews to ensure requirements alignment.
• Support issue resolution involving system functionality, interoperability, and software performance.

Embedded Systems & Interfaces

• Apply working knowledge of embedded systems architectures, constraints, and development environments.
• Understand hardware/software interfaces, communication protocols, and subsystem interactions.
• Support interface definition and validation between embedded devices, processors, sensors, payloads, and external systems.
• Assess integration and verification implications of firmware, software, and hardware revisions.

Program Execution & Technical Leadership

• Support Program Increment (PI) planning, staffing assessments, and execution readiness activities.
• Prioritize verification and requirements activities to meet schedule and milestone commitments.
• Mentor junior engineers on requirements quality, traceability, and verification planning.
• Drive continuous improvement in systems/software collaboration, process efficiency, and engineering rigor.

Job Requirements And Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical discipline with 5–8 years of experience in systems engineering, software engineering, embedded systems, or integration environments.
• Experience decomposing system requirements into software‑level requirements.
• Experience creating verification plans, descriptions, procedures, or acceptance criteria.Strong understanding of embedded systems and software development lifecycles.
• Experience with hardware/software interfaces and communication protocols.
• Ability to interpret and apply system‑level CONOPS to engineering execution.
• Programming Languages: Python, C++, C, Java, Bash, or similar.
• Development Tools: Git, IDEs, debuggers, CI/CD platforms.
• Operating Systems: Linux, Windows, Unix.
• Protocols/Interfaces: TCP/IP, UDP, Serial, USB, Ethernet, APIs.
• Other Tools: Requirements tools, issue tracking systems, automated test tools.

$133,908 - $160,991 a year

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full‑time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.