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Embedded Flight Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Embedded Software Engineer

Houston, TX ยท On-site

$113K - $148K/yr

Design, implement and maintain embedded flight software features and improvements * Analyze, test and perform I/O performance assessments upon integrated hardware/software solutions * Interface with ...

As a Flight Software Engineer III, you will play a critical role in designing, developing, testing ... We are looking for an engineer with solid embedded software experience and a passion for ...

Flight Software Engineer III

Denver, CO ยท On-site

$150K - $211K/yr

As a Flight Software Engineer III, you will play a critical role in designing, developing, testing ... We are looking for an engineer with solid embedded software experience and a passion for ...

Flight Software Engineer III

Seattle, WA ยท On-site

$150K - $211K/yr

As a Flight Software Engineer III, you will play a critical role in designing, developing, testing ... We are looking for an engineer with solid embedded software experience and a passion for ...

Flight Software Engineer II

Seattle, WA ยท On-site

$123K - $173K/yr

Design, develop, integrate, and test real-time embedded flight software in C/C++ for spacecraft ... Proficiency in C/C++ programming in resource-constrained embedded environments * Working knowledge ...

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Embedded Flight Software Engineer information

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$70K

$153.4K

$174K

How much do embedded flight software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for embedded flight software engineer in the United States is $153,383.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $131,500.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Embedded Flight Software Engineers face when working on spacecraft projects?

Embedded Flight Software Engineers often work under strict reliability and safety requirements, which means testing and validation are critical and highly rigorous. They frequently collaborate with hardware engineers to ensure software and hardware integration is seamless, and must manage constraints such as limited processing power and memory. Additionally, they need to adapt to changing project requirements and tight deadlines, all while staying up-to-date with evolving aerospace standards and technologies. These challenges make strong problem-solving skills and effective communication essential in this role.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Embedded Flight Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Embedded Flight Software Engineer, you need a strong background in computer science or engineering, proficiency in C/C++ programming, and experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and embedded systems. Familiarity with aerospace standards, software development tools (such as Git, Jenkins), and certifications like DO-178C for software safety are typically required. Exceptional problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are valuable soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure reliable, safe, and efficient software for mission-critical aerospace applications.

What is the difference between Embedded Flight Software Engineer vs Embedded Systems Engineer?

AspectEmbedded Flight Software EngineerEmbedded Systems Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Electrical, Computer Engineering, or related; experience with aerospace standardsBachelor's or higher in Electrical, Computer Engineering, or related; similar certifications often preferred
Work EnvironmentSpacecraft, satellites, aerospace industry, safety-critical systemsConsumer electronics, automotive, industrial devices, various industries
Industry UsagePrimarily in aerospace and defense sectorsBroad industry application including automotive, medical, consumer electronics
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared due to specialized embedded software in aerospaceMore general embedded systems roles in various sectors

Embedded Flight Software Engineers focus on developing software for aerospace applications like satellites and spacecraft, requiring specialized knowledge of aerospace standards. In contrast, Embedded Systems Engineers work across multiple industries, designing software for everyday devices. While both roles involve embedded programming, the industry focus and application environments differ significantly.

What are Embedded Flight Software Engineers?

Embedded Flight Software Engineers design, develop, test, and maintain software that runs on embedded computer systems within aircraft, spacecraft, or satellites. They work closely with hardware engineers to ensure that the software interfaces correctly with sensors, actuators, and control systems used for flight operations. Their responsibilities often include programming in languages like C or C++, debugging real-time systems, and ensuring compliance with safety and reliability standards. This role is critical in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of aerospace vehicles.
More about Embedded Flight Software Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Embedded Flight Software Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Embedded Flight Software Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Embedded Flight Software Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Embedded Flight Software Engineer jobs include:
Flight Software Engineer

Flight Software Engineer

Red Canyon Engineering & Software

Charleston, WV โ€ข Remote

Full-time

Posted 8 days ago


Job description

Position Summary:

We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative software engineer to develop and test spacecraft flight software. We're looking for candidates who can bring exceptional programming skills and experience in embedded software development and testing to the team.

Position Responsibilities:

The Software Engineer's primary responsibility will be contributing to the development and testing of our satellite flight software. This engineer will be involved in the full lifecycle of flight software development, from requirements definition through operations. However, because we are a small team where each person takes on many roles, this engineer will also contribute to mission concept development, in-house modeling and simulation capabilities, and proposal writing. Being at the cutting edge of space technology, we need someone who is eager to learn, grow, and take on new and potentially unfamiliar challenges. There is no shortage of fascinating problems to solve.

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

Flight Software 45%

  • Upgrade existing flight software for new missions.
  • Contribute to the development of new satellite flight software for our satellite platforms.
  • Develop in-house tools to analyze flight software performance and assess its compatibility with new mission and conops.
  • Develop and execute flight software verification and validation tests at the unit, module, subsystem, and platform level.
  • Work with manufacturing engineers to support installation onto the hardware-in-the-loop test environments and eventual flight hardware.
  • Participate in anomaly resolution activities and patch existing flight software.
  • Develop, integrate, and test flight software applications using spacecraft flight software frameworks such as NASA's Core Flight System (cFS).
  • Contribute to the design, integration, and maintenance of reusable flight software components, messaging architectures, and command and telemetry interfaces.
  • Support software integration activities across spacecraft subsystems, flight computers, payloads, and ground systems.

Software Integration and Test 45%

  • Develop and execute FSW verifications tests using both proprietary satellite digital twin software and a 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.
  • Develop and execute integration and verification testing of cFS-based flight software within simulation, FlatSat, and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) environments.
  • Support end-to-end validation of command, telemetry, fault management, and autonomous spacecraft operations software.

Systems Modeling 5%

  • Contribute to the development of systems- and mission-level modeling and simulation tools.
  • Develop software models of payloads for ground testing.
  • Support development of software model of satellite platform, particularly ensuring accurate representation of the flight software.

Additional Responsibilities 5%

  • Support working groups, both internal and with customers and/or vendors.
  • Support proposal writing, new business.
  • Assess the software impacts of new hardware, conops, and missions.
Preferred Qualifications:ย 
  • Experience developing spacecraft flight software (FSW) for satellites, spacecraft, launch vehicles, or autonomous aerospace systems.
  • Experience with NASA Core Flight System (cFS) and/or other spacecraft flight software architectures.
  • Experience with real-time operating systems such as RTEMS, VxWorks, Integrity, or embedded Linux.
  • Familiarity with spacecraft command and telemetry systems, CCSDS protocols, fault management, and onboard autonomy.
  • Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), FlatSat, digital twin, or spacecraft integration and test environments.
  • Experience supporting spacecraft mission operations, anomaly resolution, and on-orbit software maintenance.

Qualified Experience / Skills / Training:

Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in STEM (Science, Technical, Engineering, Math) or related scientific areas.

Experience:

  • A minimum of 3 years with a Bachelor's degree, or 1 year with a Master's degree.
  • Proven track-record of working with aerospace hardware and/or software systems, starting from conceptual designs and tradeoffs through detailed design, development, manufacture, integration, test, deployment, and operations.

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

  • Insatiable curiosity and a demonstrated ability to learn and work independently.
  • Proficiency in C/C++.
  • Expertise in one or more of the following:
    • Embedded software development and testing.
    • Device driver development and testing of software/hardware interfaces.
    • Real-time operating systems programming, debugging, and testing.
    • Cybersecurity.
    • GNC algorithms design, analysis, testing, and implementation.
    • 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.

Eligibility:

  • US Citizenship.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.