Flight Software Engineer II
Quantum Space · Rockville, MD · 2 days ago
On-siteEngineeringFull-time
What You’ll Get
- Ownership – Build and shape the core software that executes on orbit and drives our mission capabilities.
- Impact – Contribute directly to spacecraft behavior, autonomy, and mission execution.
- Innovation – Work across hardware, software, and operations to develop the next generation of on-orbit systems.
- Growth – Expand your technical depth in embedded systems, flight software, and spacecraft operations.
- Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing.
Where You’ll Make an Impact
- Develop flight and payload software for embedded spacecraft systems running VxWorks and Linux.
- Debug and integrate software with hardware subsystems across a variety of communication interfaces and protocols.
- Collaborate with avionics, payload, propulsion, and GNC leads to implement subsystem behaviors in flight software.
- Work with mission operations and ground software teams to design scheduling logic, command sequences, and autonomous behaviors.
- Support hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing, system integration, and functional verification of spacecraft software.
- Document software behaviors, interfaces, and workflows to ensure cross-functional alignment across engineering teams.
What It Takes
- BS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related field
- 3+ years of experience with C++ or another object-oriented programming language
- Proficiency in Python for scripting, testing, and automation
- Strong experience working in a Linux development environment, including but not limited to: Shell scripting (bash), Networking/IP, Serial/UART interactions, System-level debugging
- Experience with Git and Git-based workflows such as GitLab
- Ability to rapidly understand, navigate, and contribute to a large, previously developed codebase
Nice to Have
- 5+ years of C++ development experience
- Experience developing flight software or other spacecraft-related software (ground tools, test frameworks, payload apps)
- Background in embedded systems development
- Familiarity with common spacecraft interfaces such as I2C, RS-422/485, LVDS, SpaceWire, MIL-1553, Ethernet
- Experience with Rocket Lab MAX FSW
- Hands-on experience with VxWorks or other real-time operating systems (RTOS)