This position focuses on the design, development, and validation of embedded flight software for a deployed payload system that uses advanced sensors in a novel space application. You will work in a fully digital development environment and play a key role in qualifying and validating software for flight operations. The role requires deep expertise in embedded systems, real-time operating systems, and C++ development for mission-critical, flight-qualified software.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and test embedded flight software in C++ for space-based sensor payload systems.
- Implement embedded software that meets functional, performance, and reliability requirements for flight operations.
- Execute digital simulations to validate software performance, behavior, and functionality in representative environments.
- Ensure embedded software meets flight qualification standards and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Debug and resolve complex software issues in real-time operating system (RTOS) environments, including VxWorks.
- Collaborate closely with systems engineering and hardware teams to integrate software with payload and sensor systems.
- Analyze system-level constraints such as timing, memory, processing capacity, and safety requirements, and architect solutions that operate effectively within these limits.
- Apply a systematic, fact-based problem-solving methodology to isolate root causes and implement robust fixes.
- Develop, document, and execute software test procedures and validation plans for flight software.
- Prepare and maintain detailed documentation of software design, implementation decisions, test procedures, and validation results.
- Participate in technical design reviews, code reviews, and formal assessments to ensure software quality and compliance.
- Generate and evaluate multiple technical solution options when addressing complex embedded software challenges.
- Demonstrate technical resilience by persisting through difficult issues and driving them to successful resolution.
- Minimum 15 years of experience in embedded software development.
- Strong proficiency in C++ for embedded systems development.
- Hands-on experience with embedded C and embedded software architectures.
- Proven expertise with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS), including VxWorks.
- Demonstrated experience developing flight software rather than ground support software.
- Prior experience with flight-qualified or flight-critical software development.
- Experience executing digital simulations for software validation and verification.
- Strong embedded background with the ability to design, implement, and test low-level software for hardware-constrained environments.
- Demonstrated ability to write embedded code that performs to specification and can be effectively tested and validated in simulated environments.
- Systematic problem-solving methodology, including structured approaches to isolating root causes of technical issues.
- Fact-based analysis skills, with the ability to gather, interpret, and leverage technical data and empirical evidence for debugging and troubleshooting.
- Ability to generate multiple viable technical solutions within engineering and system constraints.
- Understanding of system-level constraints such as timing, memory, processing limitations, and safety requirements, and the ability to design within those boundaries.
- Technical resilience, with a track record of persisting through complex embedded software problems and driving them to resolution.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to systematically diagnose issues, evaluate constraints, and develop viable solutions.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with missile or other highly mission-critical systems is beneficial.
- Familiarity with classified or sensitive projects and environments.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams, including systems and hardware engineers.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting designs, test procedures, and validation results.
- Comfort working within a fully digital development and simulation environment.