Embedded Flight Software Engineer

Job description

Team & Reporting Line: Mission and Space Segment - Reporting to Lead Satellite Systems

Our Mission  

At constellr, we're harnessing the power of space to solve one of Earth’s greatest challenges: climate resilience & security in a changing world. Our thermal satellite constellation delivers the most accurate land surface temperature data on the market, equipping commercial players, governments, defence agencies, and global institutions with the thermal intelligence they need to make strategic decisions- from national security and infrastructure to agriculture and climate resilience. 

As a fast-scaling company with offices in Brussels, Freiburg, Munich, Washington and Toulouse, our multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, and strategists is building the future of space-based Earth observation

Your Role

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. 

Key responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain high-reliability onboard flight software in compliance with product assurance and safety standards.

• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to define, refine, and manage software requirements across all onboard satellite systems.

• Contribute to the definition and evolution of onboard software architecture, supporting both laboratory-based validation environments and in-orbit operational systems.

• Develop and implement robust Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) strategies to ensure resilience and autonomy of onboard systems.

• Support the planning, coordination, and delivery of new software features and upgrades, working closely with external suppliers and development partners.

• Champion strong configuration management practices across all onboard software components to ensure traceability, integrity, and control.

• Define and drive verification and validation strategies, ensuring comprehensive testing and high confidence in flight software performance.

• Participate in end-to-end verification and validation activities for onboard systems and flight software.

• Ensure all software-whether developed in-house or delivered by suppliers-meets stringent technical, safety, and quality requirements.

• Support investigation and resolution of software anomalies and non-conformance issues, contributing to continuous improvement and system reliability.

• Help define and enhance the in-orbit software update process for satellites within the constellation fleet.

• Contribute to integration and testing activities using Flatsat environments and other ground-based simulation and validation platforms.

Job requirements

About you  

Required:  

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 

Why join constellr?

• High-Impact National Security Mission:  Be part of an ambitious mission to launch the world’s first commercial thermal infrared constellation, delivering sovereign-grade "behavioural" intelligence from space to close critical blind spots for defence, intelligence, and maritime surveillance agencies.
• Fast-Paced "New Space" Innovation:  Work at the leading edge of a rapidly evolving defence sector. By leveraging modern, agile New Space methodologies, you will help design, build, and deploy dual-use thermal payloads into operational orbit at a speed and scale that traditional aerospace models simply cannot match.
• Broad Interdisciplinary Exposure:  Accelerate your professional growth by collaborating daily with a diverse, international cohort of astrophysicists, software developers, and defence-system engineers.
• Inclusive & Scientific Culture:  Join a high-trust team deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and scientific excellence, where academic curiosity is paired with high autonomy and a flat hierarchy.
• Financial Upside & Well-being:  Benefit from a Virtual Share Option Plan (VSOP) for permanent employees, giving you a true stake in the company's growth, alongside highly flexible hybrid working models.