Senior Space Flight Software Engineer

Varda Space Industries
El Segundo, CA
On-site

Who this role is best for

Aimed at experienced software engineers with aerospace and embedded systems expertise who can work on-site in El Segundo, CA, and thrive in a collaborative environment.

Best fit for

  • Experienced aerospace software engineers with a background in safety-critical systems and embedded development
    — “5+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software”
  • Candidates with a strong foundation in C++ and real-time system design for flight software
    — “Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based software for embedded processors in C++”
  • Individuals with end-to-end spacecraft development and launch experience
    — “End-to-end experience building and launching a spacecraft”

Things to consider

  • The role requires U.S. persons due to export-controlled access, which limits eligibility
    — “our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license”
  • On-site presence in El Segundo, CA is mandatory, with no mention of remote flexibility
    — “This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with flight software development and real-time embedded systems in your resume
    — “Experience developing and testing real-time embedded systems”
  • Showcase your understanding of safety-critical aerospace software and its implications
    — “Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications”
  • Emphasize your ability to work across the full software lifecycle from design to testing
    — “Own all aspects of software development, from design, testing, and integration”
  • Demonstrate familiarity with CCSDS protocols and flight software frameworks like F' or cFS
    — “Experience with CCSDS telemetry and telecommand system”
  • Include relevant embedded systems knowledge, such as SPI, I2C, CAN, or EtherCAT
    — “Familiarity with SPI, I2C, CAN, EtherCAT”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • developed reliable flight software for spacecraft
  • implemented safety-critical software
Typical background
spacecraft software developmentsafety-critical software

Skills & requirements

Required

Space Flight SoftwareC++RTOSLinuxSoftware TestingEmbedded Systems

Preferred

PythonRustSPII2CCANEthercat

Stack & domain

C++PythonRustSpaceAerospace

About the role

Original posting from Varda Space Industries via Greenhouse

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.  

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.  

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL. 

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

The Senior Space Flight Software Engineer is responsible for determining how our spacecraft behaves and operates in orbit and building reliable software to ensure it happens. The team is responsible for all phases of development, starting from requirements capture through testing and flight operational support.

Responsibilities

Develop reliable flight software that determine how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate throughout the entire mission.

Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based software for embedded processors in C++.

Own all aspects of software development, from design, testing, and integration.

Scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems.

Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) technique.

Teamwork, communicate and problem solve in a collaborative environment.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent technical experience in safety critical software.

5+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software.

Experience with development in C++, along with a strong understanding of the language concepts.

Preferred Skills and Experience

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 system.

Experience with F' or cFS framework.

Experience with Python, or Rust.

Knowledge of basic analog and digital electronics.

Familiarity with SPI, I2C, CAN, EtherCAT.

Pay Range

Salary range: Senior Software Engineer: $169,067 - $216,031/ per year.

This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.

Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.

You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

E-Verify Notice                                                               Right To Work Notice

Read more                                                                             Read more

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

Source: Varda Space Industries careers (Greenhouse)

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