Flight Software Engineer

The role

You will own the payload flight software written in Rust. You will lead the architecture, patterns, and conventions for attitude and pointing state machines, command handling, and telemetry.

What you will do

• Serve as the technical lead and owner for payload flight software
• Design, develop, and test flight software in Rust
• Define software architecture, coding patterns, and conventions
• Establish and uphold flight-quality software standards
• Design and implement fault detection, isolation, and recovery behaviors
• Build and maintain automated test infrastructure
• Collaborate with GNC, avionics, electrical, and systems engineers
• Support spacecraft integration, environmental test campaigns, and launch operations
• Investigate anomalies and perform root cause analysis
• Mentor engineers and review designs and code

Required qualifications

• 5+ years of experience developing flight software or software for high-reliability, safety-critical systems
• Experience with software that has flown on orbit or equivalent deployment experience
• Strong systems programming skills in Rust, C, or C++
• Experience with real-time and embedded systems
• Experience designing and implementing state machines, command/telemetry handling, or similar spacecraft software functions
• Experience with hardware/software integration and testing on real hardware
• Demonstrated ability to lead technically

Nice to have

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• Prior experience as a technical lead or architect for a spacecraft flight software effort
• 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 building simulation, software-in-the-loop, and hardware-in-the-loop test environments
• Experience supporting launch, commissioning, and on-orbit operations, including anomaly investigation
• Familiarity with radiation effects and other space-environment considerations for software design
• Experience thriving in fast-paced, high-ownership startup environments

Benefits

• Equity in Cowboy Space Corp.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off
• 10 paid holidays per calendar year
• Paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance if applicable
• Daily lunch in the office
• Fully stocked kitchen with beverages and snacks

Before you apply

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Departmen

About the company

Cowboy Space Corporation is building the infrastructure for abundant, resilient space-based solar energy. The company is based in San Carlos, CA.