Staff/Principal Flight Software Engineer (IV/V)

Terranorbitalcorporation; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% Company‑paid medical, dental, and

vision coverage

401(k) Match

Flexible Time Off (FTO)

Education Reimbursement

Competitive Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

Terran Orbital in Irvine is seeking an experienced Flight Software Engineer to drive embedded C++ for high‑performance spacecraft systems and lead software development across simulation, flight hardware, and payloads.

You will report to the Flight Software Engineering Manager and guide a team of engineers, ensuring reliable, testable software in a fast‑growing aerospace environment. On‑site work is preferred for hardware access, with remote work possible after onboarding.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent field.
• 8+ years (Staff Engineer - Level 4) developing C++ applications for embedded/high‑performance/critical systems.
• 12+ years (Principal Engineer - Level 5) developing C++ applications for embedded/high‑performance/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.

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.

Skills

C++ programming

embedded systems

Git/GitHub

communication skills

self-motivated

team leadership

Linux kernel experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

Git

Linux kernel debugging

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!

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

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.

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.

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.

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