Principal Flight Software Engineer
True Anomaly5 months ago
Denver, CO, USAStaff+
Base Salary
$180k - $305k/yr
Responsibilities
- Own the architecture and technical direction of flight software for spacecraft onboard computers, processing units, and associated systems.
- Lead the design and development of maintainable, robust, safety-critical embedded software focused on mission reliability.
- Integrate GNC algorithms with flight software in collaboration with the GNC team.
- Define and maintain Command Telemetry Database architecture for ground and on-orbit testing and operations.
- Establish and enforce software engineering standards, coding practices, design patterns, and verification and validation approaches.
- Align interfaces, data flows, and operational concepts with the ground C2 software team.
- Architect and lead HITL and SITL simulation environments for subsystem and full-vehicle testing.
- Design and own reusable device-driver and communications-protocol libraries across flight hardware platforms.
- Provide technical leadership in design reviews, architecture discussions, and cross-functional planning.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field.
- 15+ years of experience with embedded systems, low-level firmware architecture, and safety-critical software.
- Demonstrated ownership of flight software architecture on delivered space or safety-critical programs.
- Deep expertise in low-level device-driver development and real-time embedded systems.
- Hands-on experience with embedded RTOS platforms such as RTLinux or Azure RTOS.
- Strong command of Ethernet, SPI, I2C, CAN, RS422, and RS485 communication protocols.
- Expert-level proficiency in C/C++ and proficiency in Python.
- Ability to maintain or obtain TS/SCI clearance.
- Master's degree in a relevant field is preferred.
- Preferred experience includes on-orbit flight software development, organization-wide engineering standards, architecture reviews, embedded Linux, UDP and TCP/IP, embedded toolchains, microcontrollers, application processors, large-scale revision-control systems, instrumentation-based debugging, robotics, automation, motor control, or sensor fusion.
- Candidates must meet applicable U.S. space technology export-control requirements.
Benefits
- Equity and health, dental, vision, HRA/HSA, PTO, paid holidays, 401(k), and parental leave are offered.
- This is an onsite role for candidates based near Denver, Colorado, or Long Beach, California.
- The role is subject to U.S. space technology export regulations and requires U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent residence, protected-individual status, or eligible authorizations.
- The position remains open until filled.
About True Anomaly
True Anomaly builds spacecraft and software for space defense, including autonomous satellites, precision-sensing payloads, mission command-and-control software, and space-based interceptors for national security and commercial operators. Founded in 2022 by former U.S. Space Force members, it is privately held and headquartered in Englewood, Colorado. The company sells hardware, AI-enabled flight software, and mission operations services to U.S. and allied defense programs and space infrastructure providers.