Senior Embedded Flight Software Engineer

Karman+ - Launching the Regolith Age • Broomfield, CO

91d • $150,000 - $180,000 • Onsite

About The Position

At Karman+, we’re building spacecraft systems that will take us beyond Earth orbit. For the High Frontier mission, we need an experienced embedded flight software engineer to architect, develop, and maintain the low-level software running on our spacecraft's flight computers and subsystem controllers. This is a critical role for an engineer who thrives on end-to-end ownership of embedded systems, understands the hardware-software interface, and can bring up, integrate, and test firmware that must perform flawlessly in orbit.

As a Senior Embedded Flight Software Engineer, you’ll take technical ownership of the flight-critical software stack. You’ll bring up dev boards, write low-level C/C++ firmware, implement robust bootloading and fault handling, and drive the integration of software with avionics and payload systems. You’ll be responsible for ensuring the spacecraft’s computers can execute guidance loops, manage system state, handle commands and telemetry, and support in-orbit updates.

This is a highly technical, hands-on role that requires strong embedded development experience and systems-level thinking. You’ll work directly with engineers across Avionics, Mechatronics, GNC, GSW, Propulsion, and AI&T, helping shape spacecraft architecture and driving key design decisions from the software side. The ideal candidate will be fluent in microcontroller-level software and comfortable working with hardware bring-up, test tools, and mission-critical constraints.

Requirements

• Deep experience software engineering, with significant experience in flight software or embedded systems, ideally in a space or aerospace context.
• Demonstrated experience in managing and mentoring teams, with a proven track record of leading others and fostering collaboration alongside technical management expertise.
• Proficiency in C++ and Python, with strong experience in Linux and RTOS based target environments.
• Significant experience in the full software lifecycle, with a focus on test-driven development and maintaining automated testing frameworks.
• Experience developing software for hardware-constrained environments.
• Experience developing software for high latency, low bandwidth environments.
• Expertise in implementing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines to ensure code quality, facilitate rapid iteration, and support continuous integration and deployment
• Strong project management skills, with an emphasis on workload tracking, task prioritization, and team coordination.
• Hands-on problem solver—you’re comfortable diving deep into code, debugging, and solving tough technical issues.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex software concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated expertise in hardware/software integration and testing, including sensor device drivers and low-level I/O.
• Experience in hardware simulation (software-in-the-loop).
• Experience using common debugging tools: JTAG, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, test scripting, etc
• Familiarity with software safety and hazard analysis, including methodologies such as FMEA.
• Proficiency with spacecraft and other standard communication protocols such as SpaceWire, I2C, SPI, RS-422/485/232, CAN Bus, IP, MIPI, GMSL, or CCSDS.
• BS or MS in engineering, aerospace engineering, or related technical field.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you 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.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with fault-tolerant or redundant embedded systems
• Familiarity with in-orbit software update patterns and bootloaders
• Exposure to flight software frameworks (e.g., cFS or F’)
• Experience working with satellite telemetry and command systems
• Background in guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) or optical navigation (OpNav) software
• Experience in GSW (EGSE interfaces, scripting, flatsat/testbed management, etc)
• Experience contributing to spacecraft flight operations or test campaigns (e.g., TVAC)

Responsibilities

• Be responsible for embedded software development for spacecraft flight computers and subsystem controllers
• Bring up and debug embedded systems primarily on ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers
• Implement fault management, telemetry collection, command parsing, and uplink/downlink functionality for high latency, low bandwidth systems
• Develop and support our real-time control systems for actuators, sensors, power, and GNC
• Design and implement bootloaders and software update mechanisms for in-orbit deployment
• Collaborate with Avionics, Mechatronics, GNC, GSW, Propulsion, and AI&T teams to enable hardware/software integration and test
• Establish and maintain embedded development workflows, standards, code conventions, and testing infrastructure
• Contribute to spacecraft flight operations; e.g., commanding and validating telemetry from the spacecraft
• Contribute to hardware-in-the-loop and spacecraft test campaigns to validate flight code
• Write technical documentation and interface specifications such that all stakeholders can effectively interact with FSW products
• Develop, test, and integrate low level component drivers for both COTS and in-house avionics products.

Benefits

• Equity Incentives - Participate in our shared success.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Plans for top tier plans with additional buy-up plan options.
• Short-term Disability and Long-term Disability covered by Karman+
• Basic Life Insurance covered by Karman+
• 401k plan
• Unlimited Paid Time Off - We focus on what you get done, not how many hours or days you work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees