We’re looking for a Flight Software Manager to shape how a growing US space engineering organisation develops software for its next generation of space systems.
This is a role for someone who wants to build more than a team around an existing codebase. You’ll define the architecture and engineering framework for flight software that can serve multiple vehicles and programs. Your remit will span spacecraft flight software and embedded payload software, giving you the opportunity to influence both the vehicle and the technology it carries.
What you’ll do
Lead, mentor and grow a team of flight software and embedded software engineers.
Set the software architecture, standards and development practices for future programs.
Guide work through the full engineering lifecycle, from requirements and design through implementation, integration and verification.
Own software plans, priorities, resources and technical risks against program milestones.
Lead hardware and software integration, including interface definitions, board bring-up and test strategy.
Work closely with systems engineering, hardware and program teams to make sound technical decisions.
What you’ll bring
You’ll have substantial experience developing bare-metal or RTOS-based embedded software in C or C++, along with experience leading engineers. You’re comfortable working with resource-constrained hardware, microcontrollers or SoCs, and the interfaces that connect software to spacecraft systems.
You understand that reliable flight software starts well before the first line of code. You can turn mission needs into clear requirements and architecture, guide detailed design, and ensure the team verifies what it builds. Experience with spacecraft avionics, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or embedded payload systems will be especially valuable.
Why join
The US flight software capability is taking shape now. You’ll have relevant technology and expertise to draw on, alongside real scope to establish an approach that supports future vehicles and programs. As the organisation grows, you’ll help determine what the team needs to become.
If you’re excited by the chance to lead engineers and build a lasting flight software capability, we’d like to hear from you.
What would you build if you had the authority to shape a space system from mission concept through delivery?
We’re working with a growing space technology business looking for a Chief Engineer to lead the technical direction of its next generation of space systems. This is a chance to take ownership of the whole solution: defining the architecture, setting performance requirements, guiding subsystem teams, and making the decisions that determine whether the mission succeeds.
The organisation is expanding beyond individual payloads into complete space vehicles and a broader range of products. You’ll join at a point where engineering leaders can influence how programs are built and how the engineering organisation grows. The challenge is to establish rigorous standards and sound processes while keeping teams able to move quickly.
What you’ll do
Own technical direction from mission design and system architecture through integration, verification, and delivery.
Set system level requirements, interfaces, and performance targets.
Work with Systems Engineers and subsystem experts to evaluate tradeoffs and resolve technical risks across disciplines.
Lead major technical reviews and judge whether the system is ready to progress.
Partner closely with program leadership and act as a senior technical voice with customers.
You won’t need to be the deepest expert in every subsystem. You will need the judgment to see how they fit together, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions when priorities compete.
What you’ll bring
You’ve led complex aerospace or space programs in a Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or comparable technical authority role. You’re comfortable taking responsibility for system performance, technical risk, and verification across multiple disciplines.
Strong radar systems expertise is essential; SAR experience is particularly valuable. We’re open to candidates from both established aerospace organisations and newer space companies. What matters most is your technical depth, system level judgment, and ability to bring experts together around a workable solution.
This role can potentially be based in California or Virginia, with hybrid arrangements available. Remote candidates may also be considered depending on the individual and the needs of the role.
If you’re ready to own the technical outcome of an ambitious space program—and help shape the engineering capability behind future programs—we’d like to hear from you.
I’m supporting a global space company that designs, builds and operates one of the world’s leading satellite constellations as they build out their US spacecraft engineering organization.
They’re hiring an Avionics Manager to lead the electrical and avionics discipline across new spacecraft and payload programs.
This is much broader than PCB design. You’ll own the integrated avionics architecture, ensuring power, C&DH, electronics, communications, networking and spacecraft interfaces all work together at system level.
What you’ll be doing:
Build and lead the US avionics/electrical team
Own spacecraft avionics architecture and technical direction
Lead power and Command & Data Handling architecture
Oversee electrical interfaces, data buses, onboard networking and harnessing
Guide PCBA/electronics development without being buried in board-level design
Resolve integration risks and conflicts across spacecraft subsystems
Establish engineering standards, processes and infrastructure
Determine future team structure and skill sets as programs grow
What we’re looking for:
Strong spacecraft avionics/electrical systems experience
Previous technical leadership or people management
Avionics architecture or electrical systems-level ownership
Strong understanding of power and C&DH
Experience integrating electronics across complete spacecraft or complex payloads
Someone who can see the entire architecture rather than one individual component
There’s significant growth potential here, with the avionics organization expected to expand across multiple disciplines and programs as the US business scales.
I’m supporting a global space company that designs, builds and operates one of the world’s leading satellite constellations as they significantly expand their US engineering capability.
They’re looking for a GN&C Manager to build and lead the discipline while taking technical accountability for GN&C across new spacecraft programs.
This isn’t a pure people management role. You’ll own the subsystem technically, setting direction, overseeing architecture and design, resolving risks and supporting programs through major technical reviews.
Drive pointing, stability, jitter and spacecraft maneuvering performance
Guide selection and integration of sensors and actuators
Own technical risks, reviews and subsystem performance
Establish the processes and infrastructure needed as new programs scale
What we’re looking for:
Strong spacecraft GN&C experience
Previous technical leadership or people management
Full spacecraft lifecycle experience
Strong modeling, simulation and algorithm background
MATLAB/Simulink, C++, Python and/or STK
Comfortable building capability in a fast-moving environment
Ideal for someone who wants to lead people without stepping away from technical engineering and have significant influence over how a GN&C organization is built.
Firmware Engineer Location: Irvine, CA (Potential consideration for the Washington, DC area) Employment Type: Full-Time Work Arrangement: Onsite Salary Range:$145,000 – $175,000 USD About the Role An innovative space technology company is seeking an experienced Firmware Engineer to join its Space Systems Engineering team. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and verifying FPGA firmware for advanced radar and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload electronics supporting next-generation Earth observation satellites. Working closely with RF, Systems, Embedded Software, and Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) teams, you will play a key role in developing flight-quality firmware for high-performance space hardware. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving complex digital design challenges while contributing to cutting-edge aerospace technology. Key Responsibilities
Design, implement, and verify FPGA firmware supporting radar signal generation, digital beamforming, and SAR data processing pipelines.
Develop and maintain RTL designs using VHDL and/or Verilog targeting Xilinx RFSoC and UltraScale+ FPGA platforms.
Architect modular and reusable FPGA frameworks that support multiple product configurations while reducing future development effort.
Integrate FPGA firmware with embedded software running on Linux and bare-metal ARM-based System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms.
Define and implement high-speed digital interfaces between FPGA fabric and RF/analog front-end hardware.
Perform timing closure, resource optimization, and power analysis for flight-grade FPGA designs.
Develop and execute FPGA verification strategies including simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, flat-sat integration, and EGSE test environments.
Collaborate with RF and Systems Engineering teams to translate radar waveform and digital signal processing requirements into FPGA implementations.
Support Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) activities by providing firmware builds, diagnostic capabilities, and debugging support throughout payload integration and qualification.
Create and maintain configuration-controlled firmware baselines, release documentation, and design artifacts supporting engineering review milestones including PDR, CDR, and TRR.
Participate in design reviews, architecture trade studies, and technical risk assessments related to FPGA and digital subsystem development.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline (Master’s degree preferred).
5–8 years of professional experience designing FPGA firmware using VHDL and/or Verilog.
3+ years of experience with Xilinx (AMD) FPGA development tools including Vivado, Vitis, and Vivado HLS.
3–5 years of experience implementing digital signal processing algorithms in FPGA hardware, including filtering, FFTs, digital down-conversion, and waveform generation.
3–5 years of hands-on experience developing firmware for System-on-Chip (SoC) architectures, including PS-PL integration on Zynq or Zynq UltraScale+ platforms.
Working knowledge of high-speed serial interfaces and industry-standard communication bus protocols.
Strong analytical and debugging skills with the ability to optimize firmware performance, timing, and resource utilization.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience developing firmware for Xilinx RFSoC devices such as ZU27DR, ZU47DR, or similar platforms with direct RF ADC/DAC integration.
Background in radar or Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) signal processing, including pulse compression, range/Doppler processing, or beamforming algorithms.
Familiarity with radar waveform design and RF system concepts such as dynamic range, noise figure, and spurious performance.
Experience developing aerospace, defense, or space-qualified electronic hardware.
Exposure to formal FPGA verification methodologies including UVM, constrained-random testing, and code coverage analysis.
Experience developing embedded Linux and bare-metal firmware for ARM Cortex-A/R processors.
Familiarity with version control systems and FPGA configuration management using Git and CI/CD workflows.
Knowledge of environmental qualification, radiation effects, thermal derating, FMEA, and reliability considerations for FPGA-based designs.
Experience supporting hardware integration and laboratory testing using oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and other electronic test equipment.
Why Join?
Develop flight-quality FPGA firmware for next-generation radar satellite payloads.
Work alongside highly skilled RF, Systems, Embedded Software, and AI&T engineers on cutting-edge space technology.
Contribute directly to advanced Earth observation missions supporting commercial and government customers.
System Engineer Location: Irvine, CA Employment Type: Full-Time Work Arrangement: Onsite Salary Range:$145,000 – $175,000 USD About the Role An innovative space technology company is seeking an experienced System Engineer to lead the systems engineering lifecycle for next-generation spaceborne radar payloads. This is a highly technical, hands-on role responsible for defining system architecture, managing requirements, driving verification activities, and ensuring payloads meet mission objectives from concept through flight readiness. Working closely with RF, digital, mechanical, software, and program teams, you will play a key role in translating mission needs into robust, flight-ready space systems while balancing performance, reliability, manufacturability, and schedule. Key Responsibilities
Define and maintain the overall payload system architecture, including avionics and subsystem interfaces.
Decompose mission and system-level requirements into subsystem and interface specifications while maintaining complete requirements traceability through verification.
Lead Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and reliability assessments to identify potential single-point failures and develop mitigation strategies.
Design fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) strategies, safe modes, and anomaly response concepts aligned with mission operations.
Establish, monitor, and maintain system-level technical budgets including mass, power, thermal, data rate, and communications link budgets.
Own the verification and validation (V&V) strategy by mapping requirements to appropriate verification methods including testing, analysis, inspection, and demonstration.
Develop mission concepts of operations (ConOps), including orbit operations, imaging modes, duty cycles, and ground segment interfaces.
Define, maintain, and control Interface Control Documents (ICDs) between payload subsystems and spacecraft interfaces.
Collaborate with software engineering teams on embedded flight software architecture, command and telemetry definitions, and operational mode transitions.
Partner with product and engineering teams to translate product roadmaps into system-level technical requirements and architecture decisions.
Support formal engineering reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, MRR, and FRR by preparing and presenting technical documentation.
Perform system trade studies and budget analyses to support design decisions, cost optimization, manufacturability, and mission performance.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
7+ years of systems engineering experience supporting space systems, radar systems, avionics, or similar complex aerospace programs.
Minimum 2 years of experience serving as a System Architect or technical lead on complex engineering programs.
5+ years of experience leading requirements decomposition, requirements management, and verification closure throughout the product lifecycle.
5+ years of experience performing FMEA and reliability analyses for flight hardware or high-reliability systems.
5+ years of experience developing and tracking system-level budgets including mass, power, thermal, and communications link budgets.
Working knowledge of radar or RF systems.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical decision-making skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Software Engineer (Payload Software) Location: Irvine, CA Job Type: Full-Time Work Schedule: Onsite Salary: $155,000 – $175,000 USD, depending on experience.
About the Opportunity Join an innovative space technology company developing advanced remote sensing systems and next-generation satellite payloads. This organization designs, builds, and operates cutting-edge space systems that deliver mission-critical intelligence and Earth observation capabilities for government and commercial customers. We are seeking an experienced Software Engineer to design, develop, and integrate payload software for advanced spacecraft systems. In this role, you will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop embedded software that supports the complete payload lifecycle—from architecture and implementation through integration, testing, and deployment. This is an excellent opportunity for an engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges while working on mission-critical space hardware and software.
Key Responsibilities
Design, develop, and integrate payload software for spacecraft systems.
Participate in the complete software development lifecycle, including requirements definition, architecture, implementation, integration, verification, and testing.
Collaborate with systems, hardware, electrical, RF, and integration teams to ensure successful software and hardware interoperability.
Develop and maintain Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and software documentation.
Support software integration, debugging, and validation during spacecraft assembly and test activities.
Troubleshoot embedded software and hardware interface issues throughout development and integration.
Contribute to software architecture decisions and continuous improvement of development processes.
Required Qualifications
6+ years of professional experience developing software using C, C++, and Python.
6+ years of embedded software development experience.
6+ years of experience working with System-on-Chip (SoC) and microcontroller-based designs.
Strong experience developing software in Embedded Linux environments, including Yocto build systems.
Experience developing and maintaining Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
Experience implementing communication and data protocols.
Experience supporting the complete software lifecycle from requirements development through verification and testing.
Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) systems.
Familiarity with FPGA firmware development.
Understanding of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems.
Experience supporting avionics integration and system-level testing.
Knowledge of avionics hardware architectures.
Experience with spacecraft or embedded system architecture.
Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics.
Why Join Us?
Develop software that directly supports next-generation spacecraft and remote sensing technologies.
Work alongside experienced multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Contribute throughout the full product lifecycle—from software architecture to spacecraft integration.
Solve challenging technical problems while building highly reliable embedded systems for space applications.
Be part of a collaborative engineering environment focused on innovation, quality, and mission success.
Compensation & Benefits
Comprehensive health benefits.
Flexible paid time off.
Collaborative engineering culture with opportunities for professional growth.
Security & Export Requirements This position may require access to export-controlled technology and the ability to meet applicable U.S. government security and compliance requirements. Candidates must be eligible to work in accordance with U.S. export control regulations.
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