Senior Spacecraft Embedded Software Engineer, RTOS

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. From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is expanding the economic bounds of humankind by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth.

Our team is 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 backing from world-class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, Varda has offices and a production facility where vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested, as well as additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

About the role

The Senior Embedded Software Engineer on 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.

Responsibilities

• Develop reliable firmware to control how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate through the entire mission.
• Own all aspects of software development, from design, testing, and integration.
• Scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems.
• Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux-based software for embedded processors in C++.
• Build highly reliable and available software systems.
• Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) techniques.

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 developing and testing real-time embedded hardware/software systems.
• Experience with development in C++, along with a strong understanding of language concepts.

Qualifications

• Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications.
• Experience with additional programming languages such as Python or Rust.
• Strong understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, data structures, and computer networking.

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.

This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA. ITAR requirements apply: candidates must be U.S. persons (U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).