Systems Engineer - Onboard Software

You will join the constellr Mission & Space Segment team, playing a key role in shaping the onboard software that powers our satellite constellation across its full lifecycle — from early design through to in-orbit operations. 

This is a hands-on, high-impact role where you will help define how our satellites compute, behave, and evolve in space. Your work will directly influence the reliability, performance, and long-term success of constellr’s mission. 

You’ll collaborate closely across the business — working day-to-day with internal engineering teams, Product Assurance, Project Management, and Operations, as well as external suppliers. Together, you will help turn mission concepts into robust, flight-ready software systems. 

In addition to software development, you will contribute to system-level design decisions, support procurement and supplier technical alignment, and help ensure our onboard software is continuously validated, improved, and ready for operation in orbit. 

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  Design, develop, test, and maintain onboard flight software in line with product assurance and safety standards  

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  Work with stakeholders to define, refine, and manage software requirements across all onboard systems  

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  Contribute to the design of onboard software architecture, including support for lab-based and in-orbit operational models  

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  Help define and implement system-level fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) strategies within onboard software  

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  Support planning and coordination of new software features and upgrades, working closely with external suppliers  

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  Ensure strong configuration management practices across all onboard software components  

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  Define verification strategies and testing approaches to ensure robust and reliable flight software  

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  Take part in verification and validation activities for onboard systems and flight software  

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  Ensure software — both internally developed and supplier-delivered — meets defined requirements and quality standards  

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  Support anomaly resolution and non-conformance investigations related to onboard software  

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  Help define and improve the in-orbit software update process for satellites in the constellr fleet  

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  Contribute to integration and testing activities using Flatsat and other ground-based environments 

Essential Experience:

We’re looking for someone with strong engineering fundamentals and real-world experience building software for complex, safety-critical or aerospace systems. 

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field  

• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and full software development lifecycles in complex technical environments  

• At least 4 years of experience in software development or software assurance, ideally in aerospace or other safety-critical domains  

• Experience with embedded software development, including familiarity with low-level hardware interfaces (e.g., CAN, Camera Link, or similar)  

• Exposure to FPGA-based systems and familiarity with relevant ECSS standards (especially Q-ST-60-02)  

• Solid grounding in software engineering principles, development methodologies, and lifecycle management tools  

• Experience with software testing frameworks, tools, and processes  

• Strong practical experience using Git and working within CI/CD pipelines  

• Proficiency in Python and C++ 

Nice to have:

These skills would further strengthen your profile, but are not essential: 

• Familiarity with ECSS standards and handbooks, including:  

  • ECSS-E-ST-40C  

  • ECSS-E-HB-40A  

  • ECSS-E-ST-20-04C  

  • ECSS-Q-ST-80C  

  • ECSS-Q-ST-60-03C  

  • ECSS-Q-ST-30-02C  

  • ECSS-E-ST-70-11C  

  • ECSS-E-ST-70-41C  

  • ECSS-E-HB-40-02A  

• Experience with space communication protocols such as CCSDS and CSP  

• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills  

• High attention to detail and a strong quality mindset  

• Confidence in identifying inconsistencies and improving technical standards  

• Clear communication skills and ability to work across multidisciplinary teams