Staff Flight Software Engineer

About the role

ABOUT OBSERVABLE SPACE

At Observable Space, we're redefining how humanity observes and connects with the universe. We're a vertically integrated, high-growth, space technology company building industry-leading precision optics platforms for Earth and in space. Our systems are trusted by thousands of customers, including NASA, JPL, SpaceX, Boeing, RTX, the US Space Force and the U.S. Department of War, leading research institutions and international partners.

We combine precision opto-mechanical hardware, embedded compute, cloud orchestration, and developer-friendly APIs into world class products at scale with in-house manufacturing. From advanced ground stations, on-orbit sensor suites, free space optical lasercom, to distributed compute platforms, we deliver the foundational systems enabling continuous, real-time navigation, observation, and communication in space.

Observable Space is backed by top-tier institutional investors including Lux Capital, Upfront Ventures, RTX Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners and Embedded Ventures. To learn more, visit observable.space http://observable.space.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a highly-motivated and hands-on Senior Software Engineer to join our growing team. In this role, you’ll design, develop, and maintain flight software systems for spacecraft and telescope platforms. You’ll work with a multidisciplinary team of electrical, mechanical, optical, and software engineers to deliver reliable, fault-tolerant systems for ground-based and potential future space-based deployment.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

- Design and develop flight software for spacecraft and telescope systems, including command, control, and data handling (C&DH).

- Build and maintain software that interfaces directly with hardware components, sensors, and onboard subsystems.

- Architect systems for high reliability, fault tolerance, and long-duration autonomous operation.

- Implement communication protocols for telemetry, command uplink/downlink, and system coordination.

- Collaborate with electrical and hardware teams to ensure seamless integration between software and physical systems.

- Support hardware bring-up, integration, and debugging at the hardware/software boundary.

- Develop and implement fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) mechanisms.

- Support system testing, including simulation, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and validation activities.

- Participate in and contribute to design reviews (PDR, CDR, etc.) and internal documentation.

- Provide engineering support during integration, testing, and system validation.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent.

- 5+ years of experience in software engineering, embedded systems, or systems-level development.

- Strong programming skills in C/C++ or similar low-level languages.