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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 components in-house, from heat shields to processing payloads.
As Senior Flight Software Engineer, you will own the development of reliable flight software that determines how Varda's spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate throughout their entire mission lifecycle. This is a hands-on role spanning all phases of development: requirements capture, design, implementation, testing, integration, and flight operational support.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing safety-critical flight software in C++ for embedded processors (bare metal, RTOS, or Linux-based systems)
- Owning complete software development lifecycle from design through testing and integration
- Scoping projects, capturing requirements, and conducting design trades for open-ended problems
- Ensuring system quality and performance through comprehensive verification and validation (V&V)
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced aerospace environment
You'll need a bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, or engineering, plus 5+ years developing spacecraft or safety-critical software. Strong C++ expertise is essential. Preferred qualifications include end-to-end spacecraft development experience, real-time embedded systems expertise, aerospace safety-critical software background, familiarity with CCSDS telemetry/telecommand, F' or cFS frameworks, Python/Rust, analog/digital electronics, and experience with SPI, I2C, CAN, or EtherCAT protocols.
Varda was founded in 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov, backed by top-tier investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund. The team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharma, and Silicon Valley. Headquarters and production facility are in El Segundo, CA, with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
