Senior Flight Software Engineer

Capella Space stands at the forefront of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology and signal intelligence. We provide customers in governments, academia, and commercial sectors with reliable information that enables unparalleled understanding of the world. Our mission is centered on delivering timely and reliable Earth imagery, supporting diverse applications in defense & intelligence, disaster response, energy, environmental monitoring and more. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, Capella Space designs, manufactures and operates an advanced constellation of SAR imaging satellites. Our market-leading SAR satellites are complemented by an unmatched data infrastructure and automated ordering and delivery platform for fast, reliable insights where and when customers need it most. 

Recognized for our technological prowess, Capella Space was honored as one of the 10 most innovative companies in Space in 2023 by FASTCOMPANY. Capella Space is an internationally trusted Earth Observation data provider, working closely with the U.S. Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force, NASA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the Canadian Government and more to make unclassified, high-resolution SAR data more accessible.  

What Makes Capella Unique?

Capella Space is a highly collaborative team environment, providing an opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the space industry, though no prior space experience is needed.  We’re looking for people excited about tackling seemingly impossible challenges, learning new skills and concepts, and helping each other achieve success. Our mission and our products are meant to understand the whole world and help everyone in it - regardless of race, creed, or any other distinction. We encourage you to bring your unique perspective to help make us stronger, including applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. 

The Flight Software team is responsible for writing, maintaining, and improving the software that runs on board the Capella satellite constellation. We support every phase of the development process from initial design through spacecraft decommissioning: we prepare for satellite launches, maintain spacecraft on-orbit, and develop new capabilities to enhance how customers collect and access Earth imagery. The team’s focus is on software and system architecture, maintaining and improving a fully-autonomous, rapid-response satellite system.

About the Role & Team

As a software engineer on the Flight Software team, you will be writing the software that runs our satellite fleet in space! You will interact daily with other software engineers, FPGA developers, electrical engineers, and various other subsystem owners to develop, maintain, and implement new features for the spacecraft software. You will have a demonstrable track record of working with complex systems, understanding systems architecture, and setting the engineering development plan making complex radar technologies easy to use.

Responsibilities 

• Lead designs, development, and maintenance of flight software for satellite systems, ensuring adherence to industry best practices.
• Spearhead collaboration efforts with hardware, FPGA, and ground software engineers to establish and maintain seamless integration between hardware and software components.
• Drive code review processes, offering insightful feedback and mentoring junior engineers to enhance overall code quality and team efficiency.
• Architect and implement unit and integration testing strategies to fortify the reliability and resilience of the software system.
• Drive to document the software and lead cross-training initiatives to empower team members with a deep understanding of the software architecture and functionality.
• Act as a subject matter expert in troubleshooting and resolving complex software issues, leveraging technical experience to address challenges and minimize impact.
• Take ownership of the software development life cycle, from requirement analysis to deployment planning and execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or related field of study and of 8+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent.
• Proven ability to lead and support software design through all lifecycles, including initial schematic review, architectural tradeoffs, preliminary and detailed design, implementation, integration, and testing.
• Extensive experience in working with real-time embedded systems, encompassing both hardware and software with a focus on high level application design.
• Hands on experience developing, testing, and debugging hard real-time software (bare-metal or RTOS).
• Proficiency in embedded Linux, Linux kernel modules, and standard Linux tools.
• Strong knowledge of programming compiled (C, C++) and scripted (Python, shell script, etc.) languages.
• Demonstrated proficiency in writing software for microcontrollers and other embedded systems, such as Xilinx Zynq SoCs.
• Familiarity with software configuration management principles and practices.
• Hand-on experience with lab equipment and electronics hardware, e.g., oscilloscopes, logic analyzers. 
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITAR here.

Compensation 

The annual salary range for this role as it is posted is $168,900 - $223,760. The final job level and annual salary will be determined based on the education, qualification, knowledge, skills, ability, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location and calibrated against relevant market data and internal team equity.  Benefits listed in this posting may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Capella Space.    

Benefits/Perks 

In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation: 

• We offer up to 100% paid medical coverage, with robust vision and dental plans, comprehensive flexible spending accounts, and supplemental health plans 
• Equity 
• 401K Plan to invest in your long-term retirement planning 
• Generous Parental Leave 
• Flexible Paid Time Off Policy 
• Commuter & Parking Benefits 
• Mental Health Resources 
• Monthly phone stipend 
• Daily provided lunches and stocked kitchens.  
• Furry friends? We’ve got you covered with dog-friendly work environment & them with pet insurance options 

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Capella Space is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you need assistance or require an accommodation during the job application process, please notify recruiting@capellaspace.com 

To learn more about us, explore our site: https://www.capellaspace.com/  and follow us on X and LinkedIn to see our SAR imagery!