Flight Software Engineer (Senior & Staff)
West Los Angeles, CA (5 Days Onsite)
$140,000 - $236,000 + Bonus + Equity
We're partnering with a well-funded aerospace startup developing next-generation space systems that are redefining what's possible in orbital operations. Backed by leading venture investors and supported by major U.S. government programs, the company has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting engineering organizations in the commercial space industry.
You'll join an engineer-first culture where small, highly talented teams own complex technical problems from concept through deployment. Engineers are trusted to make meaningful architectural decisions, move quickly, and spend the vast majority of their time building software that directly powers real missions-not navigating layers of process.
The team is tackling challenges that few organizations in the world are working on today, with technology that has both immediate national security applications and enormous long-term commercial potential.
The Role
As a Flight Software Engineer, you'll develop the software that runs directly onboard next-generation spacecraft. Working on the Processing Core team, you'll own critical components of the flight software stack responsible for vehicle operation throughout the mission lifecycle.
This is a true systems engineering role where you'll work close to the hardware, designing highly reliable software that powers autonomous spacecraft in demanding environments. You'll collaborate with hardware, avionics, ground software, and mission operations teams to build software that is tested, deployed, and flown on real missions.
What You'll Do
- Design, develop, and maintain mission-critical flight software for spacecraft.
- Build software that interfaces directly with embedded hardware, sensors, and onboard systems.
- Develop reliable, fault-tolerant software for mission-critical environments.
- Own features throughout the full software lifecycle, from architecture and implementation through testing, deployment, and flight operations.
- Partner closely with cross-functional engineering teams to integrate hardware and software across the entire vehicle.
We're Looking For
- 3+ years of professional software engineering experience (Senior and Staff opportunities available).
- Strong experience with systems programming using Rust (preferred), C++, or C.
- Linux development experience.
- Experience building production-quality embedded systems, flight software, firmware, or other mission-critical software.
- Experience developing software that interfaces directly with hardware.
- Strong understanding of software architecture, debugging, and systems design.
- Staff engineers should have experience leading technical direction and owning complex software systems.
Nice to Have
- Aerospace, satellite, robotics, autonomous systems, or defense experience.
- Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL), Software-in-the-Loop (SITL), or integration testing.
- Knowledge of networking, telemetry, fault management, bootloaders, drivers, or real-time systems.
- Experience developing software for safety-critical or highly reliable environments.
Why Join?
- Build software that flies on real spacecraft and directly enables mission success.
- Join a rapidly growing company backed by top-tier investors and major government partnerships.
- Work alongside an exceptional team of engineers solving some of the most technically challenging problems in aerospace.
- High ownership, minimal bureaucracy, and the opportunity to shape core flight software architecture from the ground up.
- Engineer-first culture where you'll spend the vast majority of your time building world-class software instead of sitting in meetings.
Compensation
- Bases up to 235,000
- Performance Bonus (10-20%)
- Equity
- Comprehensive benefits package
No visa sponsorship or relocation assistance is available.
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