Cowboyspace

Cowboyspace

Flight Software Engineer

Seattle, WA

Work authorization required$200k-$250kDetected 12 days ago
RustC++Embedded SystemsAvionicsAerospace EngineeringMentoring

About the role

  • You'll be responsible for the payload flight software-written in Rust-spanning attitude and pointing state machines, on-board command handling, and telemetry and data storage.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the technical lead and owner for payload flight software, from architecture through on-orbit operations
  • Design, develop, and test flight software in Rust for attitude and pointing state machines, command handling, and telemetry/data storage
  • Design and implement fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) behaviors at the software level
  • Build and maintain automated test infrastructure, including simulation and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing
  • Collaborate closely with GNC, avionics, electrical, and systems engineers to define interfaces and system behavior
  • Support spacecraft integration, environmental test campaigns, and launch and early-orbit operations
  • Investigate anomalies across hardware/software boundaries, perform root cause analysis, and drive fixes to closure
  • Mentor engineers on the team and review designs and code to raise overall software quality
  • Help drive the team toward a near-term on-orbit demonstration, making pragmatic scope and risk tradeoffs along the way

Requirements

  • 5+ years of experience (or equivalent practical experience) developing flight software or software for other high-reliability, safety-critical systems
  • Experience with software that has flown on orbit, or equivalent deployment experience demonstrating judgment about what flight-quality software requires
  • Experience with real-time and embedded systems, including resource-constrained and fault-tolerant designs
  • Experience designing and implementing state machines, command/telemetry handling, or similar spacecraft software functions
  • Experience with hardware/software integration and testing on real hardware

Nice to have

  • Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
  • Production Rust experience, particularly in embedded or systems contexts
  • Experience with attitude determination and control or pointing systems from the software side
  • Experience with FDIR design, redundancy management, and autonomous fault response
  • Experience supporting launch, commissioning, and on-orbit operations, including anomaly investigation
  • Experience thriving in fast-paced, high-ownership startup environments with rapid iteration cycles
  • 10 paid holidays per calendar year
  • Relocation assistance if applicable

Compensation

  • The salary range for this position is $200,000 - $250,000 annually.

Benefits

  • Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
  • Employees and their eligible dependents may enroll in medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan
  • Paid parental leave
  • The actual base salary offered will depend on factors such as job-related skills, experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

Visa & Work Authorization

  • Export Control Requirement: To conform to U

This listing is sourced directly from Cowboyspace's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.