Software System Engineer

The Exploration Company; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Visa sponsorship where applicable

Job summary

The Exploration Company is advancing Nyx, a modular space orbital vehicle design, combining cutting-edge software with aerospace systems. We seek a Software System Engineer to support flight software certification, V&V, and requirements tracing within a collaborative team.

You will work with system engineers, certification bodies, and safety authorities, applying C++ and Python to software design and testing while aligning with formal standards.

Qualifications

• Experience with safety-critical or highly regulated software (aerospace preferred).
• Strong background in requirements management, V&V, test and certification processes.
• Solid software engineering background with flight software frameworks and modern C++.
• Experience with real-time/embedded or spacecraft software.
• Familiarity with software testing methodologies and simulation tools.
• Excellent cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration skills.
• Focus on detail, quality, and testing.
• Familiarity with agile and modern development practices.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to V&V and IV&V activities to ensure flight software meets functional, performance, and safety requirements.
• Support requirements management and tracing, ensuring full traceability from system-level requirements to software implementation, test and verification artifacts.
• Prepare and review documentation required for software certification and NASA Safety Reviews.
• Interpret, tailor, and apply formal standards.
• Interface with internal Product Assurance.
• Collaborate daily with system engineers and software development teams to resolve technical issues and clarify requirements.
• Develop and maintain software functional design baseline.
• Plan software testing of the integrated mission.
• Use your understanding of C++ and Python to meaningfully engage in software design and test discussions.

Skills

C++

Python

V&V

Requirements tracing

Software design

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

CI/CD systems

Build systems

Model-based engineering tools

Job description

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.

Software System Engineer to support the certification activities of the flight software for the Nyx program. You will work in a dedicated team focused on verification & validation (V&V), software certification, requirements tracing, test planning and system engineering interfacing. In this role, you will collaborate closely with software development teams, system engineering, certification bodies, and safety authorities. You will work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where cross-functional integration is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute to V&V and IV&V activities to ensure that flight software meets functional, performance, and safety requirements
• Support requirements management and tracing, ensuring full traceability from system-level requirements to software implementation, test and verification artifacts
• Prepare and review documentation required for software certification and NASA Safety Reviews
• Interpret, tailor, and apply formal standards
• Interface with internal Product Assurance
• Collaborate daily with system engineers and software development teams to resolve technical issues and clarify requirements
• Develop and maintain software functional design baseline
• Plan software testing of the integrated mission
• Use your understanding of C++ and Python to meaningfully engage in software design and test discussions

Required Qualifications

• Experience working on safety-critical or highly regulated software systems (preferably in aerospace)
• Solid understanding of requirements management, V&V, test and certification processes
• Strong technical background in software engineering, with practical experience in flight software frameworks and modern C++
• Experience with real-time systems, embedded development, or spacecraft software
• Familiarity with software testing methodologies and simulation tools
• Excellent cross-disciplinary communication and collaboration skills
• Focus on detail, quality, and testing
• Familiarity with agile and modern development practices

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with standards such as SSP 50808, NASA-NPR-7150.2, NASA-STD-8739.8B, RCC319, ECSS-Q-ST-80C
• Prior work on human-rated spaceflight programs
• Experience with model-based system engineering
• Experience with CI/CD systems and build systems

The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.

All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful completion of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ensure this process is efficient and transparent as possible. If applicable, you will receive an email from Zinc upon acceptance of your offer with a link to a secure portal where you can provide the required information to Zinc.