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Salary: USD 169,067 - 216,031 / annual
Varda Space Industries is building commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, and satellite buses. The company designs, builds, and operates all major components in-house, from heat shields to processing payloads.
As a Senior Flight Software Engineer, you will be responsible for determining how Varda's spacecraft behave and operate in orbit. You'll develop reliable, safety-critical flight software that controls the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule throughout their entire missions. The role spans all phases of development: requirements capture, design, implementation, testing, verification & validation, and flight operational support.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing reliable flight software in C++ for embedded processors, using bare metal, RTOS, or Linux-based systems
- Owning all aspects of software development from design through testing and integration
- Scoping projects, capturing requirements, and performing design trades for open-ended problems
- Ensuring system quality and performance through comprehensive software testing, verification, and validation techniques
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced aerospace environment
Varda's team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies, and Silicon Valley. The company was founded in 2021 and is backed by top-tier investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund. Varda operates facilities in El Segundo (headquarters with production and integration), Washington DC, and Huntsville, AL.
QUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, physics, engineering, or equivalent technical experience in safety-critical software
- 5+ years of experience developing spacecraft or similar safety-critical software
- Strong proficiency in C++ with deep understanding of language concepts
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- End-to-end experience building and launching a spacecraft
- Real-time embedded systems development and testing
- Safety-critical software experience, especially for aerospace applications
- CCSDS telemetry and telecommand systems
- F' or cFS framework experience
- Python or Rust programming
- Basic analog and digital electronics knowledge
- Familiarity with SPI, I2C, CAN, or EtherCAT protocols
Note: This role requires ITAR compliance. Candidates must be U.S. persons (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or individual admitted as refugee/granted asylum) due to access to export-controlled technology.
