Senior Software Engineer, Operating Systems

Apex Technology, Inc.•Los Angeles, CA

5d•$185,000 - $250,000•Onsite

About The Position

As a Senior Operating Systems Engineer on Apex's Flight Software team, you will design, develop, and own software that brings spacecraft to life. You will tackle challenging problems in autonomous systems and build robust software that enables reliable spacecraft operation 24/7 across every phase of a mission. You will work closely with mission operations, GNC, and hardware teams to architect systems, prototype ideas, and develop mission-critical software that ultimately flies. Space industry experience is not required; Apex seeks motivated engineers who enjoy solving complex problems, balance technical rigor with practicality, and thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. The Flight Software team consists of interconnected high-level application software, operating system software, and embedded software teams, with significant collaboration across them. Apex manufactures satellite buses at scale using software, vertical integration, and hardware designed for manufacturing. Its spacecraft support applications including Earth observation and communications. The company describes itself as a fast-growing startup with more than $500 million in funding and emphasizes in-person collaboration at its Playa Vista office, alongside flexibility to integrate work and life.

Requirements

U.S. Person status is required because the position needs access to export-controlled data; the posting also describes the possibility of obtaining required export authorizations.
Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, or equivalent, or equivalent professional experience.
At least 8 years of experience writing code for operating systems, ideally Yocto or embedded Linux on spacecraft, robotics, automotive, or other hardware that interacts with the physical world.
Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python, C++, or Rust.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing, testing, deploying, and troubleshooting mission-critical satellite software from prototyping through flight operations.
Experience with embedded Linux platforms and bootloader frameworks such as Yocto, Buildroot, WolfBoot, and U-Boot.
Experience bringing up new avionics and flight hardware from initial power-on through functional verification.
Experience with hardware/software integration, schematic analysis, and hardware debugging using oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.
Familiarity with spacecraft attitude control systems, including reaction wheels, magnetorquers, thrusters, and associated sensors.
Experience designing, implementing, and validating firmware update mechanisms, including bootloader integration, secure firmware deployment, and update recovery.
Experience designing secure systems and implementing security enhancements in complex software architectures.

Responsibilities

Develop low-level software that configures and drives processor peripherals and communication interfaces on avionics.
Develop, configure, and maintain embedded Linux platforms and bootloader frameworks, including Yocto, Buildroot, WolfBoot, and U-Boot.
Design, implement, and validate firmware update mechanisms, including bootloader integration, secure firmware deployment, and recovery procedures.
Design and implement security enhancements across complex software architectures to improve system integrity, resilience, and secure operation.

Benefits

Equity in Apex.
Company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
$100,000 life insurance at no cost.
Paid vacation starting at 15 days and increasing to 20 or more days annually.
10 paid holidays.
401(k) plan with a 100% match on the first 3% contributed and a 50% match on the next 2%.
Eight weeks of paid parental leave.
Childcare reimbursement up to $350 per day for work-related travel.
Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks.
Office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for employees and their families.
Tools and equipment for a productive desk setup.
In-person collaboration at the Playa Vista office, with flexibility to integrate work and life.
Long-term incentives in the form of stock options for full-time hires.