Principal Flight Software Engineer (Embedded Linux)
Principal Flight Software Engineer (Embedded Linux)
Greater Montreal, Canada | Hybrid, 2 days on site | Permanent
A Canadian orbital launch company is hiring the senior engineer who will own its flight software platform. The team is around 60 people, well funded, with engines that have been through several hundred hot-fire tests. This is a hands-on seat: you will write the code, set the architecture and raise the standard of a small software team.
What you'll do
- Build and harden embedded Linux as a deterministic real-time system on flight hardware: minimal Yocto or Buildroot images, kernel configuration, latency and jitter measured on target.
- Deliver the end-to-end data path in your first six months: sensor to flight software, downlink, control room displays and ground storage.
- Stand up the hardware-in-the-loop bench from scratch, growing from desktop simulation to real flight hardware, and wire it into CI.
- Choose and integrate off-the-shelf and open-source components, fixing what isn't good enough rather than rewriting everything.
- Mentor engineers and set practical coding and review standards.
What you'll bring
- Typically 8+ years in embedded software, with real ownership of a complex system end to end.
- Deep embedded Linux: Yocto or Buildroot, board support, device tree, boot chain, PREEMPT_RT or similar real-time tuning.
- Strong C and C++ on resource-constrained, mission-critical targets.
- Experience building SIL or HIL test infrastructure.
- Pragmatism. You know where it has to be perfect and where good enough ships.
- Aerospace, launch, spacecraft, robotics, drones or automotive backgrounds all considered. Launch vehicle experience is a plus, not a requirement.
The detail
- Hybrid, two days a week on site. A remote start ahead of relocation can be considered for the right person.
- Must be eligible for Canada's Controlled Goods Program.
- Competitive salary plus equity.
To find out more, message me directly or email k.harris@evona.com.