Flight Software Engineer
We are seeking a Flight Software Engineer to join our mission operations team in a role focused on developing high reliability embedded software systems for spacecraft flight operations. This position is central to ensuring mission success through robust flight software development, real-time system implementation, and hardware interface integration.
You will be an integral member of the flight software team working across embedded software development, telemetry and command systems, and CI/CD pipeline implementation—while contributing to flight-critical software applications that enable safe and efficient lunar mission execution.
- End to end ownership of FSW subsystem – from requirements through verification and real time operations
- Architect, develop and maintain production-quality C code for embedded spacecraft flight software applications within the NASA cFS framework, implementing rigorous unit-level testing to ensure reliability of flight-critical systems.
- Design and implement real-time software systems for spacecraft operations, including command processing, telemetry generation, and hardware interface integration in memory-constrained environments.
- Work with embedded Linux systems (PREEMPT-RT), managing device trees, interrupt handling, scheduling, and system initialization to support high-reliability spacecraft operations.
- Own CI/CD pipeline development and maintenance, ensuring continuous integration and deployment of flight software with generated verification products.
- Collaborate with international engineering teams in Japan, Luxembourg and the U.S.
- Develop and maintain FSW operations procedures, technical documentation, and interface control documents to ensure operational readiness and mission assurance throughout the software development lifecycle.
- Support spacecraft operations as needed, monitoring telemetry, analyzing system performance, and providing flight software expertise during mission-critical phases.
- Work with vendors and internal stakeholders, clearly communicating technical requirements, progress and issues to both technical and non-technical audiences
- 5+ years of working experience
- Proficiency in C for embedded applications with experience in high-reliability embedded software systems; direct experience with spacecraft flight software is ideal
- Experience with Python or similar scripting languages
- Proficiency with Git version control
- Working knowledge of Linux environments
- Experience with real-time system development and hardware interface integration
- Knowledge of software application design and implementation lifecycle, including initialization, command processing, telemetry generation, and unit-level testing
- Understanding of CI/CD pipelines and generated verification products
- Experience with embedded Linux systems including PREEMPT-RT Linux, scheduling, device tree configuration, and interrupt management
- Experience with Yocto and/or U-Boot development for embedded system setup
- Experience with Docker containerization
- Familiarity with NASA's Core Flight System (cFS) framework
- Familiarity with CCSDS protocols (TC/TM, CFDP, Space Packet Protocol) for space systems
- Experience with RTOS concepts including tasking, scheduling, and resource management
- Experience in telemetry and command management system design and implementation
- Experience with image processing protocols
- Experience working with memory-constrained environments and serial communication protocols
- How much does the Flight Software Engineer at ispace pay?
- The posting lists a range of $101K–$152K per year. Ranges reflect what ispace publicly declared on the source posting.
- Where is this Flight Software Engineer role based?
- The role is based in Englewood, Colorado.
- What experience does ispace expect for this role?
- The posting is tagged as a lead-level role, typically 7+ years of experience. Check the requirements section for specifics.
- How was this posting sourced?
- This role was pulled directly from ispace's Lever careers site. Apply links open in the employer's own ATS — no reposts or aggregator middleware.
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