Senior Space Flight Software Engineer

Varda Space Industries•El Segundo, CA

3d•$169,067 - $216,031•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Space Flight Software Engineer determines how Varda spacecraft behave and operate in orbit and develops reliable software to support that operation. The team works across all phases of development, from requirements capture through testing and flight operational support. The role is based on-site in El Segundo, California. Varda develops commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reentry capsules. Its W-Series vehicles and associated payloads, capsules, heat shields, and satellite buses are built, integrated, and tested in-house. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering, or equivalent technical experience in safety-critical software, at least five years of experience developing spacecraft or similar safety-critical software, and experience developing in C++ with a strong understanding of the language. The stated annual salary range is $169,067–$216,031. The role is eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards. Due to access to export-controlled items, the company hires U.S. persons permitted to access its technology without an export license.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering, or equivalent technical experience in safety-critical software.
At least 5 years of experience developing spacecraft or similar safety-critical software.
Experience developing in C++, with a strong understanding of the language concepts.
U.S. person status, as defined in the posting, to be permitted access to export-controlled technology without an export license.

Nice To Haves

End-to-end experience building and launching a spacecraft.
Experience developing and testing real-time embedded systems.
Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications.
Experience with CCSDS telemetry and telecommand systems.
Experience with the F' or cFS framework.
Experience with Python or Rust.
Knowledge of basic analog and digital electronics.
Familiarity with SPI, I2C, CAN, or EtherCAT.

Responsibilities

Develop reliable flight software that determines how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate throughout the mission.
Write structured bare-metal, RTOS-based, or Linux-based software for embedded processors in C++.
Own software development, including design, testing, and integration.
Scope projects, including requirements capture and initial design trades for open-ended problems.
Ensure system quality and performance using software test, verification, and validation techniques.
Work, communicate, and solve problems collaboratively.