Senior Flight Software Engineer I - Secret Clearance Seen this week
About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, and satellite components. The Electron rocket has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit. The company is developing Neutron, a medium-lift reusable launch vehicle. Space Systems designs and builds satellites, payloads, and components for NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope.
Space Systems
The Space Systems team builds complete spacecraft, precision payloads, and components including solar panels, flight software, star trackers, optical systems, separation systems, and radios. The team has enabled more than 1,700 missions spanning interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security initiatives, working with NASA, the Space Development Agency, and the U.S. Space Force.
The Role
You will play a key role in supporting flight software development for Space Systems programs. You will participate in all aspects of software design and development, from requirements definition through coding and testing. Your software will operate in orbit within weeks and months, not years, thanks to Rocket Lab's own rockets and launch sites.
What You'll Do
- Develop application software to run within a Real Time Operating System (RTOS) and/or embedded Linux
- Develop hardware drivers to interface to Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), Star Trackers, Reaction Wheels and other spacecraft sensors and actuators
- Develop and maintain comprehensive unit tests to run within a Continuous Integration framework
- Collaborate with hardware-in-the-loop test engineers to verify and validate combined software and hardware functionality
- Collaborate with systems engineers and embedded systems engineers in developing, documenting and validating requirements
- Participate in review of source code changes and ensure all changes meet company coding standards
- Participate in design reviews such as PDR and CDR
- Assist with on-orbit and interplanetary flight operations
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or equivalent technical degree
- Active Secret Clearance, with ability to obtain TS/SCI
- 5+ years of demonstrated applicable experience in embedded software development
- Proficiency in C and C++ languages
- Experience with Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS) or Embedded Linux
- U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements
Nice to Have
- Active TS/SCI security clearance
- Advanced Degree
- Experience developing software and drivers with CAN/CAN-FD and/or UDP/TCP within an embedded system
- Experience developing software for autonomous vehicles operating in harsh environments, such as satellites or autonomous vehicles
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary: $124,000 to $171,000 USD (CA only). Level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Total rewards package includes company equity and benefits: top tier medical HMO, PPO and 100% company-sponsored medical HSA plan option, dental and vision coverage, 3 weeks paid vacation and 5 days sick leave per year, 11 paid holidays per year, flexible spending and dependent care savings accounts, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, discounted employee stock purchase program, subsidized EV charging stations, onsite gym, food and drinks, and other discounts. Eligibility for benefits may vary based on employment status.