Flight Software Engineer

Long Wall • Long Beach, CA

23h • $115,000 - $250,000

About The Position

Long Wall Company, founded in 2024, develops missile defense technology, including the Cyclops interceptor, containerized launchers, and low-cost targets for threat replication. The company is hiring Flight Software Engineers at all experience levels, from early-career through senior and principal-level technical leaders. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and candidates are matched to a level based on their experience.

Flight Software Engineers design, develop, test, and integrate reliable, scalable, and testable software for launch vehicles and missile defense systems. The work spans the full lifecycle from initial concept through flight-ready systems, including architecture, design, development, testing, and vehicle integration. Engineers collaborate with GNC, avionics, and test engineers to deliver software for demanding operational use. Responsibilities and ownership scale by level: early-career engineers own defined features and components with guidance, mid-level engineers own subsystems end to end, and senior and staff engineers set architecture and technical direction while contributing hands-on and mentoring others. All levels are expected to prioritize safety, testability, rigorous engineering practices, ownership, and effective teamwork.

The position typically works in an office environment and may require travel up to 25% of the time. It requires the ability to sit or stand for extended periods, use a computer, communicate in person, by phone, and via telepresence, and lift up to 50 pounds. Access to export-controlled information requires US person status. Depending on the position, employment may also be contingent on a favorable national security suitability determination.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience developing real-time or embedded software; senior and principal levels typically require at least 5 and 8 years, respectively.
• Proficiency with C++ and Python in a Linux development environment.
• Experience developing software for physical systems involving sensors, real-time planning and control, actuator or motor commanding, wired communications, or RF transceivers.
• Experience with high-reliability software testing practices, including unit, integration, and regression testing.
• Strong software design fundamentals; senior and staff candidates must demonstrate the ability to make and defend architectural decisions across a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively across engineering disciplines.
• Familiarity with Git or similar source control systems and team-based software development practices.
• US person status, as required for access to information protected under US export control laws.
• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods, use a computer, communicate with individuals and groups in person, by phone, and via telepresence, and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing fault-tolerant or fail-safe software architectures.
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and/or embedded Linux platforms.
• Experience defining or using board support packages (BSP) and application software in complex, distributed, and/or asymmetric or heterogeneous multiprocessing environments.
• Experience building or working with software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL/HITL) test environments.
• Experience developing flight software for launch vehicles, spacecraft, missiles, or other aerospace systems.
• Experience leading or mentoring a team of software engineers.
• Familiarity with safety-critical software standards and practices such as DO-178C, NASA software classifications, or similar.
• Familiarity with digital communication protocols such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, RS-422, and PCIe.
• Experience integrating complex mechatronic control systems comprising multiple actuators, including test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop highly reliable autonomous flight software for launch vehicles and missile defense systems.
• Own flight software development from conception through design, development, testing, integration, and flight readiness, with scope depending on level.
• Collaborate on investigations, troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and solution design from engineering through system-level testing and production.
• Collaborate with the avionics hardware team on electrical and data interface design and software/hardware integration.
• Contribute to feature, regression, software-in-the-loop (SIL), and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, including test design and approaches.
• Partner with GNC, avionics, and hardware engineers to integrate flight software with vehicle systems and support ground and flight test campaigns.
• Support test and launch operations, including anomaly investigation, resolution, and corrective action.
• Define, implement, and test Interface Control Documents (ICDs) between vehicle and ground systems.
• At senior and staff levels, define and defend flight software architecture, set team technical direction, and mentor other engineers.

Benefits

• Heavily employer-subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Company-paid life insurance and long-term disability (LTD) coverage.
• 4% 401(k) match.
• Student loan repayment assistance program.
• Paid parental leave.
• Family planning assistance program.
• Company-paid financial wellness program.
• Paid time off for non-exempt employees and a flexible vacation policy for exempt employees.
• Equity in addition to base pay.

What This Job Offers

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