Your space-enabled career begins here

About the job

The Mission

Space is the bleeding edge for humanity's next industrial revolution. While reusable rockets have opened the door, true economic transformation requires infrastructure that makes orbit as accessible and reliable as air travel. At Lux Aeterna, we're building that future by developing the first reusable satellite platform with controlled return capability - transforming space from a one-way street into a two-way highway for innovation and commerce.

The Opportunity

We're seeking an exceptional Flight Software Engineer to architect and develop the software that will command our revolutionary reusable satellite platform. You'll build safety-critical systems that operate autonomously in the harshest environment known to humanity, creating the digital nervous system that enables spacecraft to think, react, and return home safely. This is a unique opportunity to:

• Design and implement flight software architecture for autonomous spacecraft operations
• Build real-time embedded systems that control everything from propulsion to payload operations
• Create fault-tolerant software that can handle the unexpected in orbit and during atmospheric reentry
• Join a rapidly growing team with the resources to tackle ambitious technical challenges

Why Lux Aeterna?

• Pioneering Technology: We're developing the first reusable satellite platform with controlled return capability, fundamentally transforming space from a one-way journey to a two-way trade route
• Real Impact: Your work will enable new industries in space manufacturing, research, and logistics while pioneering sustainable space infrastructure
• Speed & Autonomy: We maintain parallel hardware development streams and empower engineers to innovate rapidly while upholding rigorous aerospace standards
• World-Class Team: Work alongside experts from leading aerospace companies and research institutions, building technology that will reshape humanity's access to space

The Role

You'll own the flight software architecture for our reusable satellite platform.

• Architect and implement real-time flight software for spacecraft command and control
• Develop embedded software for avionics, propulsion, thermal, and payload subsystems
• Build autonomous decision-making algorithms for mission-critical operations
• Create robust fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) software
• Design and implement spacecraft-to-ground communication protocols and telemetry systems
• Develop hardware abstraction layers and device drivers for spacecraft components
• Build comprehensive software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) test frameworks
• Implement cybersecurity measures for spacecraft command authentication and data integrity
• Support integration, testing, and on-orbit commissioning of flight software
• Collaborate with GNC, avionics, and mission operations teams to ensure seamless system integration

Required Qualifications

• B.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related technical field
• 8+ years of experience developing embedded software for spacecraft
• Expert proficiency in C/C++ or Rust for embedded systems development
• Experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS) such as VxWorks, FreeRTOS, or similar
• Strong understanding of embedded systems constraints: memory, processing, and power limitations
• Experience with software development for resource-constrained environments
• Proficiency with version control (Git), CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing frameworks
• Understanding of spacecraft operations and orbital mechanics fundamentals
• Passion for building reliable systems that operate in extreme environments

Desired Experience

• M.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or related technical field
• Experience with spacecraft flight software development and space-rated processors
• Knowledge of DO-178C, NASA-STD-8739.8, or similar safety-critical software standards
• Familiarity with SpaceWire, CAN bus, RS-422, and other spacecraft communication protocols
• Experience with formal verification methods and static analysis tools
• Background in fault-tolerant computing and redundancy management
• Prior work with autonomous systems and machine learning on embedded platforms
• Experience with ground station software and mission control systems
• Contributions to open-source aerospace or robotics projects

We are based in Denver, CO and believe in the power of in-person collaboration. We are onsite 5 days/week by default, but flexible when life requires it.