Senior Flight Software Engineer, C++

About the Company

Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses. The company focuses on manufacturing products in space that can only be produced in microgravity, such as life-saving pharmaceuticals and high-performance fiber optics. Varda aims to expand the economic bounds of humankind by creating both the products and infrastructure needed for space to directly benefit life on Earth.

Founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov, Varda is backed by world-class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, Varda has additional offices in Washington, DC, and Huntsville, AL.

Responsibilities

• Develop reliable flight software that determines 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) techniques.
• Collaborate in a team environment to communicate and problem-solve effectively.

Requirements

• 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.

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 systems.
• Experience with F' or cFS framework.
• Experience with Python or Rust.
• Knowledge of basic analog and digital electronics.
• Familiarity with SPI, I2C, CAN, or EtherCAT.

Pay

Salary range: $169,000 - $216,000 annually. Leveling and base salary are 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.

Benefits

• Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays.
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees and dependents, with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance.
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
• 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers).
• Family building, pregnancy, parenting, and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic.
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested).
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
• Relocation support for new hires, if needed.
• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly.
• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours, and mission-success celebrations.
• Complimentary EV charging.

Schedule

This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.

Eligibility

Varda requires employees to be "U.S. persons" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or individuals admitted to the U.S. as refugees or granted asylum. This requirement is due to access to export-controlled items.