Principal Software Engineer (Contract) - Flight Software

We’re ALTEN Technology USA, an engineering company helping clients bring groundbreaking ideas to life—from advancing space exploration and life-saving medical devices to building autonomous electric vehicles. With 3,000+ experts across North America, we partner with leading companies in aerospace, medical devices, robotics, automotive, commercial vehicles, EVs, rail, and more. As part of the global ALTEN Group—57,000+ engineers in 30 countries—we deliver across the entire product development cycle, from consulting to full project outsourcing.

When you join ALTEN Technology USA, you’ll collaborate on some of the world’s toughest engineering challenges, supported by mentorship, career growth opportunities, and comprehensive benefits. We take pride in fostering a culture where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.

About the role

The Principal Software Engineer's primary responsibility will be contributing to the development and testing of customer's U.S. satellite flight software. This engineer will be involved in the full lifecycle of flight software development, from requirements definition through operations. As part of a small team, this role also includes contributing to mission concept development, in-house modeling and simulation capabilities, and proposal writing. The position requires someone eager to learn, grow, and take on new challenges in the cutting-edge field of space technology.

The Principal Software Engineer will provide autonomous support of complex assignments under the leadership of the Software Team Lead and Software Engineering Manager, with project and subject-matter responsibility and authority.

Responsibilities

• Flight Software - 60%
  • Contribute to the development of new satellite flight software for U.S. satellite platforms
  • Support development and integration of GNC algorithms
  • Support development and modification of flight software hosted on new flight computer designs
  • Develop in-house tools to analyze flight software performance and assess its compatibility with new missions and concepts of operations (conops)
  • Develop and execute flight software verification and validation tests at the unit, module, subsystem, and platform level
• Software Integration and Test - 30%
  • Develop and execute flight software verification tests using proprietary satellite digital twin software and Hardware in the Loop (HIL) FlatSat
  • Establish and document test methodologies and descriptions to test compliance with customer-based requirements
  • Develop and implement software and tools for ground support equipment to test and validate flight software
  • Contribute to document management, including versioning, bug reporting, and test plan documentation
  • Oversee and conduct official validation tests
• Additional Responsibilities - 10%
  • Support working groups, both internal and with customers and/or vendors
  • Support proposal writing and new business development
  • Assess the software impacts of new hardware, conops, and missions

Requirements

• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in STEM (Science, Technical, Engineering, Math) or related scientific areas
  • Preferred: Master's in STEM or related scientific areas
• Experience:
  • A minimum of 15 years with a Bachelor's degree, or 12 years with a Master's degree
  • Proven track record of working with space hardware and/or flight software systems, from conceptual designs and tradeoffs through detailed design, development, manufacture, integration, test, deployment, and operations
• Skills & Capabilities:
  • Insatiable curiosity and a demonstrated ability to learn and work independently
  • Proficiency in C/C++
  • Expertise in one or more of the following:
    • GNC algorithms design, analysis, testing, and implementation
    • New device bring-up
    • BSP implementation
    • Embedded software development and testing
    • Cybersecurity
    • Device driver development and testing of software/hardware interfaces
    • Real-time operating systems programming, debugging, and testing
    • Functional validation of embedded software on hardware
    • Software safety assurance
    • Network topology and configuration
    • Simulators: numerical, emulator, and hardware in the loop
    • Software requirements and configuration management
• Travel: Periodic travel (less than 20%) to U.S. facilities or partner companies; occasional international travel to collaborate with European counterparts
• Eligibility: US Citizenship is required
• Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a Government security clearance; active DoD security clearance at Secret or above highly desirable

Physical Requirements

• Vision: Able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment, and read documents
• Hearing: Able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone, and hear safety warnings or alarms
• Equipment Operation: Able to operate personal computers, telephones, copiers, fax machines, and related office equipment, including using electronic identification cards to enter building floors and internal doors
• Carrying: Able to carry documents, electronic equipment, and/or supplies up to 40 lbs/9 kg
• Lifting: Able to lift documents, electronic equipment, and/or supplies up to 40 lbs/9 kg
• Sitting: Able to sit for long periods of time in meetings or while working on a computer
• Squatting/Kneeling: Able to occasionally squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items shelved on bottom shelves
• Standing: Able to stand for long periods of time
• Walking: Able to walk through office and outside areas, including uneven surfaces

Pay

Salary Range: $150K–$220K. The actual salary offered is dependent on various factors including, but not limited to, location, the candidate’s combination of job-related knowledge, qualifications, skills, education, training, and experience.

Schedule

This is a contract position. Location can be fully remote, with preferred locations in Denver, CO; Arlington, VA; Merritt Island, FL; and Houston, TX.