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Salary: USD 169,000 - 216,000 / 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 components in-house, from heat shields to processing payloads.
As a Senior Firmware Engineer on the Flight Software team, you will own the development of reliable firmware that controls how Varda's spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate throughout their entire mission lifecycle. This is a mission-critical role where your code directly impacts orbital operations and mission success.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing reliable firmware for spacecraft control across all mission phases
- Owning the complete software development lifecycle: design, testing, and integration
- Scoping projects, capturing requirements, and conducting design trades for open-ended problems
- Writing high-quality bare metal, RTOS, or Linux-based software in C++ for embedded processors
- Building highly reliable and available software systems
- Ensuring system quality through comprehensive software testing, verification, and validation (V&V)
You will bring 5+ years of experience developing spacecraft or safety-critical software, with strong expertise in real-time embedded systems and C++. A background in aerospace safety-critical applications is highly valued. The role is based in El Segundo, CA, where Varda operates its primary engineering facility and production operations.
Varda's team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, and major pharmaceutical companies, backed by leading investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund.
