{"id":760668,"url":"https://alion.io/job/quantumspace-software-systems-engineer-iii","title":"Software Systems Engineer III","company":{"id":3813300,"name":"Quantum Space","domain":"quantumspaceinc.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/quantumspaceinc","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":95,"open_postings":18,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":119,"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Hawthorne, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":160000,"max":200000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":200000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-06-04T14:14:26Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-19","last_verified_at":"2026-11-05T17:43:55Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":154,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":[],"days_open":153},"description":"Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.\nWho We're Looking For\nWe are seeking an experienced and technically driven Software Systems Engineer III to manage the development of spacecraft software architectures, mission operations capabilities, and system-level engineering solutions for next-generation spacecraft. In this role, you will bridge software engineering and systems engineering disciplines, driving technical solutions from early concept development through spacecraft integration, mission execution, and on-orbit operations.\nYou will serve as a senior technical contributor responsible for software architecture, systems engineering, interface definition, verification, and deployment of advanced spacecraft software and mission systems. Working closely with flight software, ground software, autonomy, mission operations, guidance, navigation and control (GNC), communications, and spacecraft subsystem teams, you will help develop robust software architectures that enable reliable, autonomous, and mission-ready spacecraft operations. This position is ideal for an engineer who combines deep software expertise with strong systems engineering skills and enjoys leading multidisciplinary technical efforts across the full spacecraft lifecycle.\nWhere You'll Make an Impact\nArchitect and design of spacecraft software and system-level solutions supporting spacecraft programs\nDevelop and manage system requirements, interface definitions, technical baselines, verification plans, and traceability throughout the development lifecycle\nDefine and manage interfaces between Flight Software (FSW), Ground Software (GSW), mission operations systems, and spacecraft hardware\nCollaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, including flight software, GNC, autonomy, communications, avionics, and mission operations, to develop, integrate, and validate spacecraft software capabilities\nConduct system architecture trade studies, technical assessments, and design analyses supporting program objectives\nLead technical reviews, risk assessments, architecture evaluations, and engineering decision processes\nSupport mission planning, concept of operations (ConOps) development, and mission execution planning\nMentor engineers while promoting systems engineering best practices, software quality, and technical excellence\nSupport customer interactions, executive briefings, design reviews, and technical presentations\nDrive resolution of complex technical issues across software and spacecraft systems throughout the product lifecycle\nSupport continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen software architecture, and mission execution capabilities\nWhat It Takes\nBachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline\n8+ years of relevant engineering experience, including software development for aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability systems\nDemonstrated experience developing complex spacecraft or aerospace systems\nExperience developing Flight Software (FSW) and designing spacecraft software architectures, including distributed software systems\nExperience defining and managing interfaces between Flight Software (FSW), Ground Software (GSW), mission operations systems, and spacecraft hardware.\nStrong understanding of systems engineering principles including requirements development, interface management, verification, validation, and configuration management\nExperience leading multidisciplinary technical efforts across software and hardware \nExperience supporting spacecraft development, integration, testing, launch preparation, and/or mission operations\nStrong analytical, problem-solving, and presentation skills with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, iterative development environment\nNice-to-Have Experience\nExperience with spacecraft operations, mission operations systems, autonomy, navigation, or Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC)\nExperience developing autonomous mission execution capabilities, including intelligent mission planning, Terrain Relative Navigation (TRN), or propulsive maneuver planning\nExperience working within fast-paced aerospace, defense, or commercial space startup environments\nAdvanced systems engineering experience including requirements management, interface control, and verification planning\nExperience applying AI-enabled software engineering tools, model-based engineering techniques, or automated development workflows\nExperience leading cross-functional engineering teams through rapid product development cycles and spacecraft-level systems integration\nWhat You'll Get\nOwnership - Lead the integration, and deployment of mission-critical spacecraft software \nInnovation - Help develop advanced autonomous spacecraft technologies, mission operations systems, and next-generation space infrastructure\nImpact - Deliver software and mission systems that enable national security, civil, and commercial space missions\nGrowth - Work alongside experts in software, autonomy, mission operations, spacecraft systems, and flight programs while helping shape the future of Quantum Space engineering\nCompensation - Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA/FSA options, 401(k) matching, and equity participation\nLocation: Rockville, MD or Hawthorne, CA \nBase Salary: $160,000-$200,000\nThe salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full-time offers and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.\nAdditional Requirements\nTo comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.\nApply now. Join us in building the next generation of spacecraft.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6433,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space Services","Space Defense"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-11T18:26:28Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":30,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.68,"p_room":0.44,"age_days":153,"expected_fill_days":119,"reasons":["conf:4","velocity","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":200000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/quantumspace-software-systems-engineer-iii","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/quantumspace-software-systems-engineer-iii.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-05T18:16:27Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":24035,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-06T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":3813300},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=3813300"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fquantumspace-software-systems-engineer-iii"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fquantumspace-software-systems-engineer-iii"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fquantumspace-software-systems-engineer-iii"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/quantumspace-software-systems-engineer-iii\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fquantumspace-software-systems-engineer-iii"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":760668}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"quantumspaceinc.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":760668},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. Docs: https://alion.io/developers"}}