Staff/Principal Flight Software Engineer (IV/V)

Terran Orbital Corporation; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company-paid medical/dental/visi

401(k) Match

Flexible Time Off (FTO)

Education Reimbursement

Parental Leave

Job summary

Terran Orbital is seeking a Flight Software Engineer to join our team, reporting to the Flight Software Engineering Manager. You will drive development of nano-satellite vehicle software, lead a team, and collaborate across engineering groups to deliver mission-critical solutions.

On-site work is preferred for hardware access, with remote work possible after onboarding. Salary ranges are disclosed, and a comprehensive benefits package is provided.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent field.
• 8+ years (Staff Engineer - Level 4) in C++ for embedded/high-performance/critical systems.
• 12+ years (Principal Engineer - Level 5) in C++ for embedded/high-performance/critical systems.
• Experience with GitHub or similar Git tool.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with engineering teams to establish software requirements.
• Serve as technical lead of a satellite program.
• Mentor and task junior software engineers.
• Design, develop, and maintain reliable, fault-tolerant software.

Skills

C++

Embedded systems

Git

Leadership

Communication

Security clearance

Education

BSc in CS or equivalent

Tools

GitHub

Linux kernel

Job description

Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars! At Terran Orbital, you’re not just part of the system – you’re a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation’s defense and commercial missions. We are a unique, fast growing, and trusted team dedicated to swiftly and efficiently designing, building, launching, and operating state of the art satellites for advanced mission constellations. If you’re driven by purpose, inspired by challenges, and ready to leave your mark on the universe, you’ll find a home and endless opportunities for growth here. Together, let’s redefine what is possible in orbit and beyond!

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Flight Software Engineer to join our growing team. Reporting to the Flight Software Engineering Manager, the Flight Software Engineer will become an integral part of our dynamic team, driving the development of cutting‑edge nano‑satellite vehicle solutions across a variety of exciting projects. Your expertise will be pivotal in advancing our innovative technologies and contributing to the success of our mission‑critical initiatives.

This role is preferred to work on‑site for team synergy and access to hardware, however remote work is possible after a sufficient period of onboarding.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with multiple engineering teams to establish software requirements
• Perform as the technical lead of a satellite program
• Lead a team of junior software engineers, providing mentorship and tasking
• Design, develop, and maintain simple, reliable, and fault‑tolerant software
• Develop software for unique payloads, such as imagers, image processors, communication devices, and various astronomical science instruments.
• Create comprehensive unit and regression tests in existing frameworks
• Integrate and test software in simulation, flight replica, flight vehicle, and hardware‑in‑the‑loop environments
• Communicate with the customer in technical working groups
• Potential 10% travel to visit customers or vendors for Design Reviews and collaborative technical work

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent field.
• 8+ years (Staff Engineer - Level 4) of experience developing C++ applications for embedded, high‑performance, or critical systems.
• 12+ years (Principal Engineer - Level 5) of experience developing C++ applications for embedded, high‑performance, or critical systems.
• Prior experience using GitHub or similar Git tool.
• Highly motivated, self‑starting, responsible, thorough, and able to perform duties autonomously without supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance.

Additional Differentiators

Hands‑on Linux kernel development experience, specifically with low‑level driver subsystems.

Demonstrated expertise working with UART or serial communication drivers within the Linux kernel.Experience integrating or modifying kernel interactions with hardware abstraction layers such as PIM modules or equivalent middleware.Ability to debug and trace kernel‑space issues related to device communication paths (UART, SPI, I2C, etc.).Experience supporting early‑stage or evolving hardware/firmware platforms (e.g., FCM+ or similar module frameworks).

• Experience using ARM and Texas Instruments platforms for embedded systems.
• Experience with test equipment, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers.
• Experience with Linux and GNU tools such as make GCC and debuggers such as GDB.
• Experience with scripting languages such as bash and Python.
• Familiarity with build pipelines, deployment and testing on‑target.
• Familiarity with Serial Communications - CAN, RS‑422/485, I2C, SPI, PCI, SpaceWire.

Salary Ranges

Staff Flight Software Engineer (Level IV) - $150k to $190k

Principal Flight Software Engineer (Level V) - $170k to $210k

Your actual level and base salary will be determined case‑by‑case and may vary based on the job‑related qualification, knowledge, skills, education, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer 100% covered medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, Flexible Time Off (FTO), covered life insurance, maternity and paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referrals, and lots of swag!

Salary Range

$150,000—$210,000 USD

Full‑time positions only:

Benefits

• 100% Company‑paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
• 401(k) Match
• Flexible Time Off (FTO)
• Education Reimbursement
• Competitive Paid Parental Leave

About Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end‑to‑end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on‑orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit or stand for long durations of time, in addition to bending, reaching, and walking. This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. This position is generally sedentary, with substantial computer usage.

Work Environment

The job operates in a professional office environment but in a manufacturing company. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners.

Disclaimers

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. In addition, please note that this position may require a current United States National Security clearance or eligibility for such a clearance.

Terran Orbital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].

Terran Orbital does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with Terran Orbital, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) must be executed and confirmed prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed MSA, Terran Orbital shall not be responsible to any individual or entity for any payment relating to any form of fee or compensation.

And, in the event that a resume or candidate is submitted by a recruiter, an employment agency, or a staffing firm without a fully executed MSA, Terran Orbital has the unrestricted right to pursue and hire any of those candidate(s) without any legal or financial responsibility to the recruiter, agency, and/or firm.