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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 and operates all major components in-house, from heat shields to satellite buses.
As a Senior Flight Software Engineer, you will be responsible for determining how Varda's spacecraft behave and operate in orbit, and building the reliable software to ensure mission success. You will own all phases of development from requirements capture through testing and flight operational support.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop reliable flight software that controls how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate throughout the entire mission lifecycle
- Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux-based software for embedded processors in C++
- Own all aspects of software development, including design, testing, and integration
- Scope projects by capturing requirements and conducting initial design trades for open-ended problems
- Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) techniques
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to solve complex problems
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, Alabama. The team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies, and Silicon Valley, backed by top-tier investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, 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 and Experience:
- End-to-end experience building and launching a spacecraft
- Experience developing and testing real-time embedded systems
- Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications
- Experience with CCSDS telemetry and telecommand systems
- Experience with F' or cFS frameworks
- Proficiency in Python or Rust
- Knowledge of basic analog and digital electronics
- Familiarity with SPI, I2C, CAN, or EtherCAT protocols
Note: This role requires U.S. person status (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)) due to ITAR export control requirements.
