Senior Flight Software Engineer

IonQ; Louisville (CO); On-site; USD 145,920 - 191,047; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) matching

Unlimited PTO

Home technology stipend

Job summary

IonQ is seeking a Flight Software Engineer to build software that runs our satellite fleet in orbit. You will work with FPGA, EE, and ground software teams to design, implement, and evolve flight code.

You will lead reviews, mentor colleagues, and contribute across the full software life cycle, from requirements to deployment, including live operations and documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CS, engineering, or related field or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of hands‑on engineering experience in embedded software.
• Experience with real‑time embedded systems including low‑level drivers.
• Proficient in C/C++ and Python, with RTOS and bare‑metal development.
• Familiarity with Embedded Linux and kernel modules; CM practices.
• Hardware test tools like oscilloscopes and logic analyzers familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain flight software for a growing satellite constellation.
• Collaborate with EE, FPGA, and ground software engineers for seamless integration.
• Lead code reviews and mentor teammates with high standards.
• Write and maintain unit and integration tests for robustness.
• Develop software documentation and cross‑train team members.
• Troubleshoot software issues, including live on‑orbit operations.
• Participate in the full software life cycle from requirements to deployment.
• Support integration and operations teams with software queries.

Skills

Real-time embedded systems

C/C++

Python

RTOS

Embedded Linux

Git

Bare-metal development

Software configuration management

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

Tools

Xilinx Zynq

Oscilloscopes

Logic analyzers

Git

Job description

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. (NYSE: IONQ) is a leading quantum platform and merchant supplier delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. The company’s new IonQ Tempo quantum computers achieve 20‑fold performance gains for partners such as Amazon Web Services and AstraZeneca, and have set a world record for two‑qubit gate fidelity.

Capella Space

Capella, an IonQ company, focuses on national security, advanced sensing, and next‑generation compute. It builds a world‑class synthetic‑aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation that provides all‑weather, day‑and‑night imagery to government and commercial customers.

Location this role can be based in Louisville, CO or San Francisco, CA with the option to work a few days a week remotely.

Experience Level Open to strong mid‑level through senior‑level embedded software engineers (5+ years). Travel up to 5%

The Role

As a Flight Software Engineer you will write the software that runs our satellite fleet in orbit, working closely with FPGA developers, electrical engineers, and other subsystem owners to design, build, and evolve flight code. You’ll bring a track record with complex, safety‑critical systems, strong systems‑architecture judgment, and the ability to shape the team’s engineering roadmap.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain flight software for a growing satellite constellation.
• Collaborate with EE, FPGA, and ground software engineers to ensure seamless integration between hardware and software.
• Lead code reviews and mentor teammates with constructive, high‑standard feedback.
• Write and maintain unit and integration tests to ensure robustness and reliability of the software.
• Develop software documentation and provide cross‑training to other team members.
• Troubleshoot and resolve software issues quickly, including in live on‑orbit operations.
• Participate in the software development life cycle, from requirement analysis to deployment.
• Support integration and operations teams with software‑related queries.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of relevant, hands‑on engineering experience.
• Ability to support a design through the entire software life cycle, including schematic review, architectural trade‑offs, implementation, integration, and test.
• Experience with real‑time embedded systems – both hardware and software – including low‑level drivers.
• Hands‑on experience with bare‑metal or RTOS real‑time software development.
• Familiarity with embedded Linux, kernel modules, and standard Linux tools.
• Strong knowledge of compiled languages (C, C++) and scripted languages (Python, shell).
  Experience with microcontrollers and SoCs such as Xilinx Zynq.
• Familiarity with software configuration management.
• Hands‑on experience with lab equipment and electronics hardware (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers).

Why This Role

• Direct ownership of flight software running on operational satellites.
• Front‑row seat to building the infrastructure behind the world’s first quantum‑secured space network.
• A small, senior, high‑trust engineering team where your architectural decisions carry real weight.

Required Qualification

Applicants must meet U.S. Government export regulations (ITAR). Only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or those eligible for required authorizations may apply.

Compensation

Approximate base salary range: $145,920 – $191,047. Total compensation includes base salary, bonus, equity, and benefits such as medical, dental, vision, 401(k) matching, unlimited PTO, parental leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome diverse viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, disability, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected class. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.