{"id":683813,"url":"https://alion.io/job/samaraaerospace-flight-software-engineer","title":"Flight Software Engineer","company":{"id":720615,"name":"Samara","domain":"samara.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/samara-4","size_band":null,"is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":5,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-03T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Hardware","role_family":"Hardware","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":["San Francisco, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":140000,"max":160000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":160000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Agile","optional":true},{"name":"Docker","optional":true},{"name":"MQTT","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true},{"name":"Rust","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-04-30T17:45:44Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-15","last_verified_at":"2026-10-04T01:21:48Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":156,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":155},"description":"About Us:\nSamara Aerospace is revolutionizing satellite design by addressing the challenges of deploying and managing large satellite constellations. Our innovative Hummingbird spacecraft bus offers a modular and scalable platform that streamlines satellite production and deployment, significantly reducing launch costs. Hummingbird's compact architecture maximizes launch capacity, making it the most efficient and agile spacecraft in the industry. At the core of our technology is the patented Multifunctional Structures for Attitude Control (MSAC) system. Unlike traditional wheel-based pointing control systems, MSAC utilizes actuators embedded in the hinges of deployable solar panels to provide 3-axis attitude control and active jitter cancellation. This design eliminates the need for spinning wheels, reducing mass and potential points of failure, while enhancing pointing precision.\nRole:\nThe Software team at Samara is looking for a Flight Software Engineer to join us in building an entirely new class of satellite systems. We are looking for someone who is curious, kind, and has high standards. This person will work on the flight software service stack that operates our satellite and is centered around a robust control software for our groundbreaking attitude control technology. Expect a high bar, necessary independence, high amounts of cross-team iteration, and to work alongside a team who is passionate about building something truly new. \nIf you have a background in satellite flight software, attitude control, internet-of-things, backend web, or anything related, please apply! If you do not meet all of the below criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway. We are more interested in folks who are collaborative with high standards, a learning mindset, and most of the skills than in a perfect technology match. \nResponsibilities: \nSpacecraft reliability Observability instrumentation\nDesigning test systems to expose bugs\nFixing bugs \nIntroducing/modeling best practice for reliable software \n\nProduct interface developmentDesign clean interfaces for payload and ground interactions\nProduct mindset: the interfaces are the product\n\nCross functional software engineeringwork on subsystems including radio, data management, attitude control, and system safety\nApply practices that limit complexity in task oriented modular systems\n\nQualifications: \n3+ years of experience building taskable software stacks (like web servers)\nExperience with service-based architectures\nExperience designing software-software and software-human interfaces\nExperience with Linux drivers and the /dev interface\nStrong communicator and collaborator \nBias towards simplicity \nLearning mindset \nPreferred: \nExperience with some or all of our tech stack: Docker\nRust/Python\nMQTT and RPC\nSerialization technologies (e.g. protobufs, flatbuffers)\n\nExperience with spacecraft mission concepts like operations planning and attitude control\nExperience with Attitude Determination and Control [ADC] concepts, math, or systems\nWhy Join Us?\nBe a key player in a groundbreaking aerospace startup\nWork on exciting projects with the potential to revolutionize the satellite industry\nCollaborate with a passionate and driven team\nOpportunity to grow with the company and shape its future\nSalary and Benefits:\nPay range: $140,000-160,000 annually to start \nEarly and competitive equity in a rapidly growing startup \nPlatinum-level healthcare, vision, dental, and life insurance covered 100% for you \nPartial dependent coverage available \n401k matching at 4% (no vesting) \nUnlimited PTO and sick time \nCatered lunch 3x per week\nEducation assistance up to $5,250 per year\nRelocation assistance is available \n17 paid holidays (including a “winter break” Dec. 24-Jan. 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