Satellite Flight Software Engineer

ABOUT XPLORE

The new technology frontier is rapidly expanding – and Xplore is pushing the boundaries and accelerating growth with new capabilities to transform industries with insights from space. Xplore is building a first-of-its-kind multi-sensor low Earth orbit satellite constellation designed to deliver a new class of innovative and affordable data products for Earth observation, space domain awareness, and astronomy.

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Xplore is currently recruiting innovative space hardware, software, sensors, processing and data technology professionals to be part of an exciting and rapidly growing company. Xplore offers market competitive compensation and benefits for our employees who enjoy working in a fast-paced, intellectually challenging, fun, value-based collaborative environment.

Xplore is a venture-backed space technology startup based in Redmond, WA. We provide proprietary sensor-captured data from space that enables our customer’s insights, intelligence, inspiration, and discovery of our planet and the solar system for commercial, government, defense, NGO, and research applications. We’re doing something that few other companies are even thinking about – creating the next model of space data infrastructure.

Xplore is an equal opportunity employer; employment with Xplore is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Xplore participates in E-Verify. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. All persons hired must be a current U.S. citizen or current lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

POSITION

Satellite Flight Software Engineer

Xplore is hiring a Satellite Flight Software Engineer to develop software for the various flight software segments across the Xplore spacecraft software architecture. This individual will play an integral role in software development, integration, and test and must have experience developing flight software for an operational spacecraft. The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate an ability to work with minimal supervision while being responsive and flexible within the framework of an agile space start-up.

Work for this role will be performed at Xplore in Redmond, Washington.

The Satellite Flight Software Engineer will report to the Spaceflight Software Director and work with the Systems Engineering, Mission Operations, and satellite subsystem Leads for the development of the flight software segments needed to control the satellite and manage its payloads.

As an Xplore Satellite Flight Software Engineer, you will help to shape the future of space exploration, working with an exceptional team that is passionate about creating revolutionary technology.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, test, integrate, and maintain software and firmware that performs spacecraft executive-level and management functions
• Develop requirements in coordination with systems engineering, hardware engineering, software engineering and subsystem owners
• Assume ownership of these software products, including verification testing and writing documentation
• Perform development activities throughout the software development lifecycle
• Support integrated firmware and software testing and verification
• Author tests, documentation, and participate in design reviews
• Support software readiness, planning, preparation, execution, and evaluation for all phases of spacecraft mission; from launch to mission to de-orbit

Requirements

REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• All persons hired must be a current U.S. citizen or current lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
• Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) from an accredited institution in Software Engineering or Computer Science and 5+ years of relevant experience, OR equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience developing operational software for a space mission
• Demonstrated experience connecting satellite subsystems and payloads with onboard computers

• Demonstrated strong programming skills in multiple languages including C/C++

• Demonstrated development experience with Unix operating systems and ARM processors

• Demonstrated experience and knowledge related to software discipline process development and deployment

• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information, challenges, and guidance to varied audiences

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements

• Ability to work on own initiative and prioritize tasking to align with business goal

Desired SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Five years of experience developing avionics software
• Working knowledge of DO-332, DO-178C and DO-278A qualification
• Working knowledge of real-time operating systems
• Experience with instrumentation interfaces including RS-485, I2C, SPI, or LVDS

The top 4-6 measurable priorities to be accomplished in the first 6 months

1. Develop software and firmware and requirements

2. Test software and firmware

3. Integrate and maintain software and firmware

4. Document software development lifecycle activities

5. Troubleshoot software and firmware issues and create patches for production-level code

Compensation

Xplore has needs for multiple Satellite Flight Software Engineers. The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $80,000 - $140,000 per year based upon level of experience. Xplore has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States when the role is remote. This allows us to pay employees competitively and consistently in different geographic markets. Individual base pay depends on various factors, in addition to primary work location, such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills.

The Recruitment Process

Xplore has retained Bert Sadtler, President of Boxwood Strategies to manage all hiring and conduct a different kind of recruitment. We have selected Boxwood because we are believers in Boxwood’s unique approach to candidate selection and qualification. While this process is different, we feel that it genuinely offers both candidates and the company the best opportunity to get to know each other at a deeper level than is typical with the conventional interview approach.
Please click for a short video on the Boxwood Process.

Benefits

Health Care Plan
Employees (and their families) can be covered by medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. The HSA qualified plan is for full-time employees working 30 hours or more per week.

Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
Full time employees earn PTO at a rate of 1.33 days per month. There are a minimum of 13 paid holidays each year for full-time employees.

Stock Option Plan

The company offers an equity incentive plan for qualified full-time employees.

EEO/ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Xplore is an equal opportunity employer; employment with Xplore is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This employer participates in E-Verify. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. All persons hired will be required to be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.