Senior Flight Software Engineer

Relativity Space•Long Beach, CA

20h

About The Position

As a Senior Flight Software Engineer within the Interplanetary Sciences Program at Relativity Space, you will take ownership of the design, development, and deployment of flight-critical software that governs how our spacecraft behaves and operates from concept through flight. You will be responsible for building robust, reliable embedded software that enables autonomous deep-space missions and real-time spacecraft control. This role requires an engineer who thrives on full-system ownership, moves fluidly between architecture and implementation, and brings rigorous engineering discipline to every phase of development from requirements capture to operational flight support.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field
5+ years of experience developing, testing, and delivering embedded or real-time flight software
Strong proficiency in C++ and solid understanding of memory management, concurrency, and embedded systems design
Experience with RTOS or Linux-based embedded development, software integration, and system-level testing
Proven ability to scope open-ended problems, execute autonomously, and deliver high-quality, flight-ready software
Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, fast-paced team environment, demonstrating adaptability and problem-solving skills

Nice To Haves

Experience developing software for spaceflight, launch vehicles, or planetary spacecraft
Familiarity with deep-space communication protocols and autonomy frameworks
Experience with Python or Rust for tooling, testing, or simulation support
Background in hardware-in-the-loop testing, embedded networking, or fault-tolerant system design
Knowledge of NASA or other aerospace software development and verification standards, applied in a modern new-space context

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and test flight software for spacecraft command, control, and autonomy across all mission phases
Own full lifecycle software development: requirements capture, architecture, design, implementation, integration, test, and flight operations support
Collaborate with avionics, GNC, propulsion, and mission operations teams to ensure seamless integration between software and spacecraft hardware
Develop and execute verification and validation (V&V) processes to ensure flight safety, reliability, and mission success
Support on-vehicle and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, debugging, and mission simulations