Senior Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer
Join Varda as a Senior Flight Software Engineer to develop reliable software for spacecraft operations in a collaborative environment.
Posted by employer 2 days ago
First seen on Joblaze 1 day ago
Last verified on the company career page 1 day ago
What you'll build
- Develop reliable flight software for spacecraft operations
- Write structured software for embedded processors
- Own all aspects of software development
- Scope projects including requirements capture
- Ensure system quality through software testing
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent
- 5+ years of experience in spacecraft or safety critical software
- Experience with development in C++
Nice to have
- End-to-end experience building and launching a spacecraft
- Experience developing and testing real-time embedded systems
- Experience with safety-critical software for aerospace
- Experience with CCSDS telemetry and telecommand system
- Experience with F' or cFS framework
- Knowledge of basic analog and digital electronics
Practical constraints
- Must be a U.S. person for access to export-controlled items
Requirements
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Visa
- No sponsorship (stated in posting)
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Senior Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer at Varda Space focuses on developing and maintaining the software that governs spacecraft operations in orbit, ensuring reliability throughout missions. Proficiency in C++ and experience with embedded systems are essential, along with a background in safety-critical software development. This role is suited for seasoned engineers with a strong technical foundation and experience in aerospace applications. Varda's team comprises industry veterans, fostering a collaborative environment aimed at advancing commercial space infrastructure.
Joblaze insights
- Listed yesterday — first seen on Joblaze September 19, 2026. Last confirmed on Varda Space's careers page September 19, 2026.
- Salary band is above the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$126,887).
- Starts above 70% of 237 comparable senior other roles in United States that list Python we track (median $150,000 across 54 companies). See Python salary trends
- Python appears in 17.1% of 2139 comparable senior other roles in United States; RTOS appears in 0.6% of 2139 comparable senior other roles in United States.
Quick facts
- Is the Senior Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer role remote?
- No — this is an on-site role in El Segundo, California, United States.
- What's the salary range?
- Varda Space lists $169,067–$216,031 for this role.
- How much experience is required?
- At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Senior Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer role.
- Where is the role based?
- Varda Space is hiring for this position in El Segundo, California, United States.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: C++, CCSDS, Embedded Systems, F#, Linux, Python.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Varda Space targets senior candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Senior Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer role at Varda Space.
From the original posting
About Varda
About This Role
The Senior Flight Software Engineer 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 testing and flight operational support.
Responsibilities
- Develop reliable flight software that determine 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) technique.
- Teamwork, communicate and problem solve in a collaborative environment.
Basic Qualifications
- 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 Skills and Experience
- 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 system.
- Experience with F' or cFS framework.
- Experience with Python, or Rust.
- Knowledge of basic analog and digital electronics.
- Familiarity with SPI, I2C, CAN, EtherCAT.
Pay Range
- Salary range: Senior Software Engineer: $169,067 - $216,031/ per year.
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
- Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
- You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
Benefits
Regular Full-Time Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
- Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
- 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
Financial & Retirement
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
Benefits for Internship Positions:
Health & Wellness
- Paid observed holidays.
Financial
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
Standard company text repeated across Varda Space's postings is omitted here.