Autonomy Software Engineer – SD - Austin

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop embedded flight software in C/C++ for spacecraft systems
• Translate designs and requirements into high-quality, maintainable software that meets both functional and visual standards
• Build reusable code for components, shared libraries, and scalable services for use across the platform
• Construct state machine models for autonomous mission workflows
• Engineer algorithms and business logic to promote scalability and automation
• Contribute to software architecture, requirements, and interface definitions
• Support on-orbit operations, debugging, and anomaly resolution
• Develop unit tests and documentation for internal users and customers
• Develop integration tests against simulation tools to validate behavior against realistic mission scenarios
• Participate in agile ceremonies including sprint planning, standups, and retrospectives

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field
• 4+ years of software engineering experience with a strong focus on embedded software development
• Proficiency in C/C++
• Experience working in embedded Linux environments
• Experience with modern messaging frameworks and API technologies used in distributed systems
• Experience with Git in a collaborative, multi-contributor environment
• Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and drive code quality through reviews and design discussions
• Promised ability to collaborate across engineering, design, and operational stakeholders
• Exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguous requirements independently and drive to resolution
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presenting technical concepts to non-technical audiences
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
• Active security clearance or ability to obtain one
• Willingness to work full-time in our Laurel, MD office; this position does not support remote or hybrid work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience identifying mission states, mapping rules between states, and proving which states are symmetric or unreachable
• Experience with embedded Linux systems (drivers, networking, system-level debugging)
• Experience with spacecraft, aerospace, or safety-critical systems
• Experience with container-based installation and deployment strategies, including Docker and CI/CD pipeline integration
• Experience supporting on-orbit operations or live systems
• Familiar with vehicle simulation tools and methodologies, including modeling spacecraft dynamics, guidance and control behaviors, and mission-specific scenarios