Flight Software Engineer

Xona Space Systems • Burlingame, CA

69d

About The Position

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth. With Pulsar - the world's most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit - Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection. We're seeking a Flight Software Engineer to develop, integrate, and optimize the onboard software for our satellites. You will drive the creation of flight software components and related integration procedures. You'll work closely with hardware engineering, integration & test, and operations team members to establish robust software methodologies and practices that will scale effectively as our constellation grows. This is a hands-on role that will influence many facets of our satellite software systems, including: software architecture, embedded platforms, hardware/software interface testing, fault management, performance optimization, digital tooling, technical documentation, and operational reliability.

Requirements

• Strong proficiency in writing embedded software in C/C++ on real-time operating systems (RTOS) or space-focused software frameworks (e.g., cFS, F', TASTE).
• Solid understanding of software testing methodologies and best practices.
• Demonstrated experience with full-system testing and software/hardware interface validation.
• Proven experience implementing communication protocols and interfaces (e.g., CAN, RS-422/485, Ethernet).
• Excellent analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities and collaborative teamwork skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with on-orbit operations, fault detection, isolation & recovery (FDIR), or embedded autonomy.
• Prior experience developing embedded systems software in aerospace or similarly rigorous industries.
• Hands-on experience working with satellite flight hardware or spacecraft testbeds.

Responsibilities

• Develop, integrate, and optimize embedded flight software for satellite subsystems, writing production-quality code daily.
• Execute comprehensive full-system test campaigns, emphasizing detailed hardware/software interface validation.
• Collaborate closely with Integration & Test (I&T), hardware engineering, and operations teams to implement robust software interfaces, manage fault conditions, and develop effective mitigation strategies.
• Continuously improve software components and integration procedures, contributing to long-term reliability and scalability.
• Translate complex operational workflows into clear technical documentation, ensuring maintainability and knowledge transfer.
• Optimize software performance, stability, and resilience, enhancing spacecraft operational reliability.

What This Job Offers

• Industry: Publishing Industries
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees