Sr Systems Integration Engineer - SW

Sierra Space Corporation; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 144,000 - 198,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plan

Dental plan

Vision plan

401(k) match

Life insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Sierra Space Corporation seeks a seasoned software architect to ensure seamless flight software integration with avionics, ground support, and real hardware. You will lead cross-disciplinary teams, drive software architecture decisions, and coordinate validation campaigns for spaceflight readiness.

The role requires experience across RTOS, embedded Linux, and MBSE tools, with a focus on robust interfaces, test automation, and end-to-end verification. A current security clearance is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• Typically 5+ years of related experience or Masters +3 years.
• Experience with systems engineering lifecycle and requirement derivation.
• Knowledge of systems architecture, integration, and V&V principles.
• Active Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required.

Responsibilities

• Drive proactive software architecture decisions across the program.
• Lead engineering team focused on cohesive software design.
• Advise SV Lead and Chief Engineer on system-level impacts and risks related to software.
• Responsible for software interface management.
• Support the FlatSat / HITL environments used to test flight software on real and simulated hardware.
• Interface validation of driver-to-hardware communication and telemetry ingestion.
• Build and release management for software builds onto engineering models and flight computers.
• DITL testing to simulate nominal and orbital transitions.
• FDIR validation to verify autonomous fault handling.
• Lead software test definition and planning.
• Provide first-level support to AI&T for defects.
• Design mechanical systems and aircraft structures from concept through production and flight test.
• Support integration, manufacturing, ground test, and flight operations.
• Continuously improve engineering workflows and digital engineering capabilities.

Skills

Python/Ruby scripting

C/C++ flight software

RTOS / embedded Linux

Hardware protocols

Git CI/CD

Flight software frameworks

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

NASA cFS

F Prime (F')

COSMOS

OpenMCT

DOORS

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

Functionally reporting to the Systems Engineering Department and deployed directly to a satellite program, you will ensure that the flight software (FSW) integrates flawlessly with the physical avionics, payloads on the SV and the Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) and between the SV and ground. You will support the build, maintenance, and running of the automated test benches (like FlatSats), validate hardware-software interfaces, and orchestrate the software verification campaigns required to certify the satellite is stable and ready for space.

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.

Responsibilities:

• Drive proactive Software architecture decisions across the program
• Lead engineering team focused on cohesive software design
• Advise SV Lead and Chief Engineer on system-level impacts and risks related to software
• Responsible for software interface management.
• Support the FlatSat / HITL: Support the Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) and FlatSat environments used to test flight software on real and simulated hardware.
• Interface validation: Validate driver-to-hardware communication, ensuring flight software accurately commands and ingests telemetry from sensors, actuators, and payloads.
• Build and release management: Manage the deployment, configuration, and flashing of software builds onto engineering models and flight computers.
• Day-in-the-Life (DITL) testing: Orchestrate end-to-end mission simulations to test how the software handles nominal operations and stressful orbital transitions.
• Fault Management (FDIR) validation: Supports the injection of hardware and data faults into the system to verify the software detects, isolates, and recovers from anomalies autonomously.
• Leads software test definition and planning
• Provides first level support to AI&T for software defects.
• Responsible for ensuring software defects are closed.
• Design mechanical systems and aircraft structures from concept through production and flight test.
• Support integration, manufacturing, ground test, and flight operations, incorporating lessons learned into future designs.
• Continuously improve engineering workflows, design standards, and digital engineering capabilities as the team grows.

Scope of Responsibility

• Software System Design & Analysis
• Software/Hardware Integration
• Software ICD Collection

Technical Skills:

• Languages: Proficiency in Python/Ruby (for test automation and scripting) and comfort navigating C/C++ (the language of most flight software).
• Embedded & OS: Experience working with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS like FreeRTOS, RTEMS, or VxWorks) or embedded Linux.
• Data Protocols & Infrastructure: Understanding of hardware communication protocols (UART, SPI, I2C, CAN, SpaceWire) and Git-based CI/CD pipelines.
• Tooling: Familiarity with satellite command and telemetry software frameworks (e.g., NASA's cFS, F' [F Prime], COSMOS, or OpenMCT).

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or Masters +3 yrs experience).
• Typically 5+ years of related experience (or Masters + 3 years of experience).
• Emerging expertise in Systems Engineering principles and practices, including a thorough understanding of the systems development lifecycle.
• Knowledge of requirements management, functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation.
• Knowledge of systems architecture, systems integration, and Verification and Validation (V&V) principles.
• Emerging ability to work and communicate with technical and specialty subject matter expert engineers to drive systems engineering products.
• An active Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Robust experience with Requirements Management and Model Based Systems Engineering tools and frameworks, such as DOORS, CAMEO EA, Rhapsody, Matlab, and SysML.
• Solid understanding of spacecraft systems, including hardware and software subsystems and components.
• Solid understanding of project management methodologies including risk management and technical performance tracking.
• Solid understanding of technical baseline and configuration management.
• Experience in leading projects and mentoring junior engineers.
• Experience or certification in INCOSE standards.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment.

Compensation:

Pay Range:

$143,700.00 - $197,608.50

Your actual base compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education,experience, internal equity and market competitiveness.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

This position requires current/active Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination

Elevate Your Career

At Sierra Space, we are committed to your personal and professional development. We empower you to make profound and meaningful contributions and foster a vibrant culture of collaboration, where teamwork ignites breakthrough innovations.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision plans
• 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%
• Life insurance
• 3 weeks paid time off
• and more

Sierra Space is an industry-leading space and defense technology company providing satellites, spacecraft, and enabling mission systems and components. We deliver mission-proven technologies to our customers that safeguard our nation, protect space-based assets and enable space exploration.

Application Deadline:

This role will remain posted until a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Please note: Sierra Space does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to Sierra Space team members not through our approved vendor list or Talent Acquisition will be considered property of Sierra Space, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.

Sierra Space Corporationis an equal opportunity employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need special assistance or a reasonable accommodation related to applying for employment withSierra Spaceor at any stage of the recruitment process, pleasecontact us.