Senior Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer
At a glance
Highlights
- fully funded space startup
- significant growth potential
- unlimited PTO
- on-site meals and snacks
Heads up
- US person requirement
- interns excluded from benefits
Why this role might suit you
The position provides hands‑on development of spacecraft flight software, competitive salary with equity, and a collaborative environment in a fast‑growing space startup.
Skills
About the role
About Varda
Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.
From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, tis a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, wwe have offices and a production facility wour vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.
What you will do (Job Responsibilities):
The Flight Software team is responsible for determining how our spacecraft behaves and operates in orbit and building reliable software to ensure it happens. The team is responsible for all phases of development, starting from requirements capture through test, and flight operational support.
Develop reliable flight software that determine how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate throughout the entire mission.
Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based software for embedded processors in C++.
Own all aspects of software development, from design, testing, and integration.
Scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems.
Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) technique.
Teamwork, communicate and problem solve in a collaborative environment.
What you will bring (Basic Qualifications):
Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent technical experience in safety critical software.
5+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software.
Experience with development in C++, along with a strong understanding of the language concepts.
What would be a plus (Preferred Qualifications):
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 system.
Experience with F' or cFS framework.
Experience with Python, or Rust.
Knowledge of basic analog and digital electronics.
Familiarity with SPI, I2C, CAN, EtherCAT.
How Varda compensates:
Salary range: $169,000 - $217,000 annually.
This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
Offer compensation also includes the ability to receive stock options under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan.
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.)
Learn more about the ITAR
Benefits
Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side
Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)
401(k) matching (interns excluded)
Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)
Health insurance, including Vision and Dental
Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Compensation
This Software Engineer role pays $169k-$217k/yr. Within typical range for software engineer roles in United States.
Questions about this role
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