SlipstreamJobsFresh Startup & VC-Backed Jobs

Senior Spacecraft Embedded Software Engineer

Varda Space Industries - El Segundo, CA, United States - In-office - posted 2026-09-18

Apply on the company site

SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.

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 processing payloads. As a Senior Embedded Software Engineer on the Flight Software team, you will be responsible for determining how Varda's spacecraft behave and operate in orbit. You will own all phases of software development—from requirements capture through design, testing, integration, and flight operational support. Key Responsibilities: - Develop reliable firmware to control spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operations throughout the entire mission lifecycle - Own all aspects of software development, from design through testing and integration - Scope projects, capture requirements, and conduct initial design trades for open-ended problems - Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux-based software for embedded processors in C++ - Build highly reliable and available software systems - Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) techniques Varda's team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies, and Silicon Valley. The company is backed by leading investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and General Catalyst. Varda maintains offices and a production facility in El Segundo, CA, with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL. The role is on-site in El Segundo, CA. You will be eligible for stock options and/or long-term cash awards. 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 - Experience developing and testing real-time embedded hardware/software systems - Experience with C++ development and strong understanding of language concepts - ITAR compliance: Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or individual admitted as refugee/granted asylum) due to access to export-controlled technology Preferred Skills: - Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications - Additional programming languages such as Python or Rust - Strong understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, data structures, and computer networking

Similar roles