Spacecraft Avionics Lead Engineer
San Francisco Bay Area
A pioneering space company developing next-gen orbital mobility solutions is hiring an Avionics and Software Lead to own the full stack of spacecraft avionics and flight software for a new Spacecraft Development.
This is a rare opportunity to architect, build, and validate a complete flight system from scratch, working on cutting-edge propulsion-enabled platforms designed for responsive orbital manoeuvring.
In this role, you'll define the avionics architecture, lead integration of radiation-tolerant electronics, and drive flight software development—including GNC algorithms, EPS design, and hardware-in-the-loop testing. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional engineering leads to ensure spacecraft safety, autonomy, and reliability from concept through CDR.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone excited by the challenge of building high-performance spaceflight systems in a rapid development environment.
What You'll Be Doing:
• Own the full avionics and flight software architecture through critical design review (CDR)
• Select and integrate COTS radiation-tolerant components for power, compute, and data handling
• Lead development of flight and ground software (telemetry, real-time control, fault management)
• Define and implement guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) algorithms
• Design electrical power systems (EPS), data bus architecture, and flight harnessing
• Build and operate a flat-sat HIL testbed for integration and validation
• Develop ICDs and maintain firmware/software configuration processes
• Support subsystem integration and testing campaigns
• Conduct FMEA and reliability analyses
• Lead subsystem design reviews and contribute to broader mission engineering milestones
What You'll Need:
• Bachelor’s degree in software engineering, electrical engineering, or similar
• 8+ years of experience developing avionics or flight software for spacecraft or other high-reliability systems
• Strong background in embedded systems, spacecraft autonomy, or GNC
• Proficiency in C/C++ or Rust; Python for scripting/testing
• Experience with radiation-hardened processors and electronics (Microchip, Xilinx, etc.)
• Familiarity with CAN, SpaceWire, RS-422, and other bus protocols
• HIL integration experience and knowledge of EMI/EMC and power distribution design principles
• U.S. Person (citizenship or permanent residency) required
Desirable Experience:
• Autonomy frameworks or fault-tolerant flight software
• Space-rated EPS or battery management systems
• Responsive space operations or in-space logistics
• Previous experience in a startup or fast-paced R&D environment
