Spacecraft Firmware Engineer II

vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

Stock options

Relocation support

401(k) with employer match

Company-paid Medical, Dental, Vision

Parental leave

Job summary

Varda seeks an Embedded Software Engineer II to join the Flight Software team. You will determine how our spacecraft behaves in orbit and build reliable software from requirements through testing and flight operations.

You will write bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based firmware in C++, own all development phases, and help ensure highly reliable systems for the spacecraft, bus, and reentry capsule.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS, math, physics or engineering.
• 3+ years in safety-critical spacecraft software.
• Experience developing/testing real-time embedded HW/SW.
• Strong C++ knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Develop reliable firmware to control spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule.
• Own all aspects of software development from design to integration.
• Scope projects including requirements capture and design trades.
• Write bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based embedded software for processors.
• Ensure system quality through V&V techniques.

Skills

C++

Embedded systems

RTOS

Linux

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering

Tools

Python

Rust

Job description

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda's W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

The Embedded Software Engineer II on the Flight Software team is responsible for determining how our spacecraft behaves & operates in orbit and building reliable software to ensure it happens. They are responsible for all phases of development, starting from requirements capture through testing and flight operational support.

Responsibilities

• Develop reliable firmware to control how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate through the entire mission.
• Own all aspects of software development, from design, testing, and integration.
• Scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems.
• Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based software for embedded processors in C++.
• Build highly reliable and available software systems.
• Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) techniques.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent technical experience in safety critical software.
• 3+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software.
• Experience developing and testing real-time embedded hardware / software systems.
• Experience with development in C++, along with a strong understanding of language concepts.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications.
• Experience with additional programming languages such as Python or Rust.
• Strong understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, data structures, and computer networking.

Pay Range

Salary range: Software Engineer II: $144,020 - $184,026/ per year.

This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.

Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.

You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Benefits

Health & Wellness

• Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
• 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
• Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial & Retirement

• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Relocation support for new hires, if needed

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
• Complimentary EV charging

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled item