Sr Software Engineer - Flight Software

sierraspace; Louisville (CO); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Sierra Space seeks a Senior Flight Software Engineer to design, architect, and develop complex embedded software systems for space missions. You will lead a team, implement robust software practices, and ensure reliability across high-stakes flight software projects.

You will contribute across the software lifecycle, work with cross-functional teams, and mentor engineers while applying Agile methodologies and rigorous design reviews.

Qualifications

• Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• Typically 8+ years of related experience.
• Deep expertise in multiple programming languages and software development principles.
• Proven ability to design, architect, and implement complex software systems.
• Experience with Agile and Scrum/Kanban methodologies.
• Strong leadership to guide a team of engineers.

Responsibilities

• Design, architect, and develop flight software systems ensuring reliability and scalability.
• Write clean, maintainable code in multiple languages and adhere to standards.
• Lead design reviews and mentor junior engineers; drive best practices.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and manage software development lifecycle.

Skills

Programming languages

Software architecture

Leadership

Agile & Kanban

System debugging

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Masters +6 years experience

Tools

VxWorks

Embedded Linux

ARINC 653

RTOS debugging tools

Job description

Sierra Space Careers:

At Sierra Space, we build the missions and systems that keep our world secure in the domain above Earth.

Sierra Space team members share a spirit of innovation and collaboration and a belief that we can deliver on the boldest missions in space today. Together with our customers, we aim to safeguard our nation, sustain human presence in space, and secure the freedom of operations in low Earth orbit and beyond.

Our success is measured by the trust of those who rely on what we build and deliver, and our technologies keep the United States and its allies mission-ready throughout space.

We are mission-driven, and together, we are an extraordinary team.

About the Role

The Senior Flight Software Engineer role at Sierra Space brings extensive experience and deep expertise to the design, development, and architecture of complex safety critical software systems. This role requires strong leadership abilities to guide a team of engineers and the capability to make high-level design decisions that significantly impact program cost, schedule, and technical performance. The position is critical in driving innovation and ensuring the reliability and performance of embedded systems while working both independently and collaboratively. Additionally, the role involves evaluating and integrating new technologies and tools to enhance software development processes, contributing to the continuous improvement of the engineering team's capabilities.

In this role, you will design, architect, and develop complex flight software systems, ensuring reliability and scalability. You will write clean, maintainable, and efficient code in multiple programming languages, adhering to best practices and coding standards. Debugging and troubleshooting critical software issues will be central to your responsibilities, ensuring smooth functionality and system performance. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, you will ensure software meets system requirements and performance standards. You will utilize version control systems such as Git for software development and collaboration, enabling seamless teamwork and code management. Additionally, you will document software architectures, designs, specifications, and development processes comprehensively for future reference and team alignment. Mentoring and guiding junior and intermediate engineers will be an integral part of your role, promoting best practices and fostering professional growth. Leading and implementing various software development methodologies such as Agile and Kanban, you will maintain an organized and efficient workflow. Furthermore, you will evaluate and integrate new technologies and tools to enhance software development processes, driving innovation and continuous improvement. Providing leadership in design reviews, you will make high-level design decisions that significantly impact program cost, schedule, and technical performance, ensuring successful outcomes for challenging and impactful projects.

About You

Our mission is driven by an unyielding commitment to advancing space-based technology in service of our customers and safeguarding national security. We seek individuals who are passionate about innovating beyond boundaries and relentlessly pursuing solutions that protect, preserve and empower - to join us in this critical mission.

We're looking for team members who align with our values, mission and goals - while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or Masters +6 yrs experience).
• Typically 8+ years of related experience.
• Deep expertise in multiple programming languages and advanced understanding of software development principles.
• Proven ability to design, architect, and implement complex software systems.
• Experience with different software development methodologies such as Agile and Scrum/Kanban.
• Strong leadership skills to lead a team of engineers.
• Ability to make high-level design decisions that will have significant impacts on program cost, schedule, and technical performance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing Flight Software for Space Missions and supporting troubleshooting during flight.
• Familiarity with time partitioning (ARINC 653) in safety critical software systems.
• Extensive experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS), for example VxWorks, or embedded Linux.
• Deep knowledge of hardware interfaces and communication protocols (e.g., 1553, UART, SPI, I2C, CAN).
• Proficiency with advanced debugging tools and techniques specific to embedded systems.
• Experience leading large-scale projects or significant contributions to complex software initiatives.
• Strong ability to stay current with new technologies and methodologies.
• Familiarity with the complete software development life cycle (SDLC) and its various processe