Senior Flight Software Engineer Seen this week
About Observable Space
Observable Space is a vertically integrated space technology company building precision optics platforms for Earth and in-space observation. The company delivers precision opto-mechanical hardware, embedded computing, cloud orchestration, and APIs across ground stations, on-orbit sensor suites, free space optical lasercom, and distributed compute platforms.
The Role
You will design, develop, and maintain flight software systems for spacecraft and telescope platforms. Working with electrical, mechanical, optical, and software engineers, you'll deliver reliable, fault-tolerant systems for ground-based and potential future space-based deployment.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop flight software for spacecraft and telescope systems, including command, control, and data handling (C&DH)
- Build and maintain software that interfaces directly with hardware components, sensors, and onboard subsystems
- Architect systems for high reliability, fault tolerance, and long-duration autonomous operation
- Implement communication protocols for telemetry, command uplink/downlink, and system coordination
- Collaborate with electrical and hardware teams to ensure seamless integration between software and physical systems
- Support hardware bring-up, integration, and debugging at the hardware/software boundary
- Develop and implement fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) mechanisms
- Support system testing, including simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and validation activities
- Participate in design reviews (PDR, CDR) and internal documentation
- Provide engineering support during integration, testing, and system validation
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent
- 5+ years of experience in software engineering, embedded systems, or systems-level development
- Strong programming skills in C/C++ or similar low-level languages
- Experience developing software for embedded or hardware-integrated systems
- Understanding of real-time systems, concurrency, and performance optimization
- Familiarity with communication protocols and networking fundamentals
- Strong debugging and problem-solving skills
- Effective communicator and collaborator
- Demonstrated passion for aerospace, robotics, or complex systems
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing flight software for spacecraft, satellites, or aerospace systems
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS) or embedded Linux environments
- Understanding of fault-tolerant system design and reliability engineering
- Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and simulation environments
- Familiarity with space communication standards (e.g., CCSDS)
- Experience working in fast-paced, early-stage or startup environments
- Basic scripting or automation (Python, MATLAB) for testing or data analysis
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation aligned with industry standards and your experience
- Equity opportunities with stock options
- Hybrid work environment with minimum 3 days per week in Los Angeles office
- Unlimited PTO with paid holidays
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% employer-paid premiums
- Access to cutting-edge hardware and software tools
- Mission-driven culture working on meaningful challenges with real-world impact
- Supportive and diverse workplace