Flight Software Engineer (Early Career)

Rendezvous Robotics • Golden, CO

3d

About The Position

Rendezvous Robotics is seeking an early-career software or computer engineer to develop flight software for electromagnetic self-assembling spacecraft components. The company is a small team based in Golden, Colorado, working toward flight demonstrations and its first operational systems. Applicants may be graduating in 2027 and start in summer 2027, or may already be working with two years or less of relevant experience and start sooner. Prior spacecraft experience is not required; the company will teach spacecraft design practices. The role is suited to people who have built real systems and approach difficult problems with curiosity.

The work spans flight software in C and C++, embedded Linux on flight computers, microcontroller firmware for sensors and actuators, testing and hardware-in-the-loop systems, and integrating new boards with the avionics team. The engineer will learn to develop software for space, including considerations such as fault tolerance, radiation upsets, and updating vehicles already in orbit.

Requirements

• BS or MS in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field, completed by summer 2027.
• Two years or less of relevant professional experience; internships and co-ops do not count toward this limit.
• Demonstrated programming ability in C or C++, gained through coursework, research, or projects.
• Experience writing software that communicates with physical hardware, such as a microcontroller, sensor, motor, or robot.
• Comfort working in Linux from the command line and using git.
• Working understanding of what happens beneath application code, including memory, pointers, and how a program runs on a processor.

Nice To Haves

• Leadership in an engineering student organization such as Formula SAE, a rocketry club, CubeSat or satellite team, robotics team, or Solar Car, especially ownership of software or electronics for a vehicle through competition or flight.
• An internship or co-op in embedded, aerospace, robotics, or automotive software.
• Microcontroller firmware experience with STM32, ESP32, or similar, on an RTOS or bare metal.
• Experience with serial buses such as UART, SPI, or I2C, and bringing up a new device from its datasheet.
• Python for testing and tooling, plus CMake and CI.
• Experience with flight software or robotics frameworks such as F Prime or ROS.

Responsibilities

• Learn to write software for space, including addressing fault tolerance, radiation upsets, and updating vehicles already in orbit.
• Develop flight software in C and C++, from device drivers and firmware through components that connect subsystems.
• Build images for embedded Linux flight computers, debug on target, and maintain the health of their services.
• Develop microcontroller firmware for vehicle sensors and actuators involved in movement and docking.
• Develop tests, CI, and hardware-in-the-loop setups to identify problems before they reach a vehicle.
• Bring new boards into the software stack in collaboration with the avionics team.

Benefits

• Stock options may be available as long-term incentives.
• Comprehensive medical coverage.
• Vision coverage.
• Dental coverage.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Paid parental leave.
• Accrue three weeks of paid vacation.
• Ten or more paid holidays per year.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level