Lead Flight Software Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Lead Flight Software Engineer – Build and Guide the Future of Autonomous Spacecraft!

Denver, CO | Onsite

Opportunity Summary

We are developing a new class of modular spacecraft designed to autonomously assemble and operate in orbit. As the Lead Flight Software Engineer, you will own the design, implementation, and scaling of the entire spacecraft software stack, from testbed development to in-orbit control. This role blends hands-on technical depth with team leadership, giving you the chance to write flight code, shape architectures, and mentor engineers as we progress from early demonstration missions toward large-scale operational systems. This position is ideal for an engineer who thrives in a startup environment : someone eager to take full accountability, solve hard problems with limited resources, and help build both the software and the team that will carry us through our next phases of growth.

About Us

We are a venture-backed aerospace startup building scalable spacecraft infrastructure with modular designs that can assemble and operate autonomously in orbit. Our core team brings expertise from avionics, autonomy, electromagnetics, and GNC, and we are backed by top-tier investors. With near-term demonstration missions on the roadmap and an ambitious long-term vision, we are positioned to redefine how spacecraft are built, launched, and operated.

Job Duties

• Define and own the architecture for spacecraft flight software, autonomy interfaces, and ground-to-space communication frameworks.
• Lead the development of state machines, health monitoring systems, and distributed fault management.
• Guide and mentor a growing team of engineers while remaining deeply hands-on in implementation.
• Partner with avionics and GNC teams to integrate EM actuation, sensing, and formation control systems.
• Drive software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) verification campaigns across mission phases.
• Establish best practices, coding standards, and testing frameworks to ensure scalable, reliable flight software.
• Contribute to long-term roadmapping, from initial demo missions through future commercial and national security applications.

Qualifications

Preferred Experience

Why Join Us

Compensation Details

$165,000 - $190,000

#LI-AV