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Flight Software Engineer II / Senior - Rocket Lab USA
Software Engineer
Design, develop, and validate flight software for launch vehicles and spacecraft, using C++, Python, and real‑time embedded systems on Linux platforms while collaborating with cross‑functional hardware and mission teams.
About the role
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain flight software for launch vehicle avionics, including low‑level drivers, middleware, and mission‑critical applications.
- Implement real‑time operating system (RTOS) solutions and ensure deterministic performance for guidance, navigation, and control functions.
- Collaborate with hardware, systems, and mission engineers to define software requirements, perform integration testing, and troubleshoot issues on the ground and in flight.
- Write automated unit and integration tests, conduct code reviews, and enforce software quality standards using Git and CI pipelines.
- Participate in Agile development cycles, contribute to sprint planning, and provide technical estimates for feature development.
Requirements
- Bachelor's or higher in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field; 5+ years of flight software experience.
- Proficiency in C++ (modern standards) and Python for tooling and test automation.
- Hands‑on experience with embedded systems, RTOS (e.g., VxWorks, FreeRTOS) and Linux‑based development environments.
- Strong understanding of spacecraft avionics, communication protocols, and safety‑critical software practices.
- Excellent problem‑solving skills, ability to work in cross‑functional teams, and familiarity with version control (Git) and CI/CD workflows.