Senior Flight Software Engineer - C/C++ - Up to $250,000

Senior Flight Software Engineer Spatial Intelligence & Space Systems Venture-Backed Space Logistics Startup $150,000 - $250,000 Base + Early-Stage Equity

Developing the world's first fully reusable satellite platform designed for controlled atmospheric return and payload recovery. Disrupting disposable satellite paradigms by building reusable orbital infrastructure for commercial, defense, and research sectors. Venture-backed by premier space investors with hardware testing underway for a 2027 demonstration mission. Headquartered in a state-of-the-art engineering facility in Denver, CO.

Build flight software from scratch for a vehicle that goes into orbit and comes back to Earth. High-autonomy, tight-knit engineering culture with zero legacy red tape. Direct ownership of autonomous decision-making algorithms and critical vehicle safety logic. Work side-by-side with top-tier aerospace veterans in a rapid hardware prototyping environment.

Architect and implement safety-critical C/C++ flight software for spacecraft operations. Develop real-time embedded Linux software for avionics, propulsion, thermal, and payload subsystems. Build autonomous decision-making and Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) software. Architect and execute comprehensive SIL (Software-in-the-Loop) and HITL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) test harnesses. Design spacecraft-to-ground communication protocols and telemetry pipelines. Support hardware-software integration, launch preparation, and on-orbit commissioning.

7+ years experience developing flight software for spacecraft or safety-critical platforms.

Expert proficiency in C/C++ for real-time embedded systems (Linux or RTOS like VxWorks/FreeRTOS).

Proven track record building automated SIL and HITL test environments.

Willingness to work on-site in Denver, CO, with occasional travel to launch/recovery zones.

Practical knowledge of Rust for embedded platforms. If you are interested in this role, please apply with your resume through this site. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate on the grounds of age, sex, race, religion or belief, disability, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation, gender, and/or gender reassignment, and we confirm that we are happy to accept applications from anyone for this role. Flight Software Engineer, C++, Embedded Linux, RTOS, Spacecraft Systems, Autonomous Systems, HITL, SIL, Hardware in the Loop, Satellite Software, FDIR, Avionics, Space Robotics, Denver Aerospace