Sierra Space Careers: Dare to Dream

About the Role

Sierra Space’s Defense division focuses on the design, build, and operations of small satellites in support of commercial services and national security space.

As a Flight Software Engineer, your primary responsibility will be designing and developing flight software and algorithms solutions for spacecraft missions for both civilian and DoD applications. These designs stem from understanding, analyzing and evaluating satellite and constellation capabilities, mission concepts, and system requirements. Your work will ensure we meet customer requirements by making data-driven decisions in architecting, implementing and testing the design in a testbed prototype and subsequent delivery of the flight code. Along the way, you will contribute to analyses of various architectures that include space vehicles, satellites, sensors, communications, and ground infrastructure; evolving or creating new approaches based on analysis results. You will also contribute to evaluating the mission effectiveness of the candidate approaches, balancing mission objectives against factors such as development and lifecycle costs.

The Software Engineer participates in all portions of the software life cycle (concept development, requirements definition, design, development, testing, and deployment) of flight software to support ongoing and future small satellite programs. This individual must have a strong working knowledge of object-oriented design using C++ and must have a strong background in developing flight code on embedded processors. The ideal candidate will have recent experience with at least one real-time operating system (such as VxWorks) and be familiar with both asymmetric and symmetric multiprocessing architectures. The candidate must also be comfortable working in an Agile Scrum environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain embedded software systems.

• Write clean, maintainable, and efficient code in one or more programming languages.

• Lead efforts to debug and troubleshoot complex software issues.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure software meets system requirements and performance

• standards.

• Utilize version control systems such as Git for software development and collaboration.

• Document software designs, specifications, and development processes.

• Implement and follow various software development methodologies such as Agile and Kanban.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree).

• Typically 2+ years of related experience in software development.

• Strong understanding of one programming language (e.g., C, C++, Python) and general knowledge of

• others.

• Strong understanding of software development principles.

• Ability to design, code, test, and debug complex software applications.

• Experience with different software development methodologies such as Agile and Kanban.

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team environment.

• Ability to write and maintain technical documentation.

• The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong technical understanding of C++

• Familiarity with industry standard software languages such as Python

• Experience with spacecraft flight software development

• Demonstrated experience leading a team developing software

• Experience with software tools for requirements tracking, code reviews, static analysis, library and artifact repository, and automated build

• Knowledge of software development methodologies such as Agile/Scrum

• Experience and knowledge of Software Design Patterns

• Experience using SysML/UML to create Software Designs

• Experience testing and debugging on both Software in the Loop (SITL) and Hardware in the Loop (HITL, on target platform) environments

• Experience with Configuration Management platforms (GIT, SVN)

• Experience developing on a Real Time Operating System (VxWorks preferred)

Physical/Mental/Emotional Requirements:

• Frequently walk, sit, stand, climb stairs and steps

• Frequently repeat same hand, arm, and finger motion many times to include finger and hand dexterity

• Rarely lifting or carrying up to 20 lbs.

Working Conditions:

• Rarely exposed to outdoor elements (high/low temperatures, sun, rain/snow, etc.)

• Rarely exposed to fumes or hazardous chemicals/materials

• Rarely exposed to loud noises

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.

At Sierra Space we are at the very doorstep of unlocking the future and the work in front of us is hard, but it is truly important and meaningful. Achieving our mission requires dedication, relentless pursuit of a dream and an unwavering passion for pushing the boundaries to accomplish what others might believe to be impossible. We seek those who too, Dare to Dream and will join us in a pursuit to achieve the extraordinary.

Application Deadline: This role will remain posted until a qualified pool of candidates are identified.

Sierra Space Corporation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need special assistance or a reasonable accommodation related to applying for employment with Sierra Space or at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.