{"id":747542,"url":"https://alion.io/job/spacekinetic-senior-real-timecontrols-software-engineer","title":"Senior Real-Time/Controls Software Engineer","company":{"id":685289,"name":"Space Kinetic","domain":"spacekinetic.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/spacekinetic","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":91,"open_postings":32,"ghost_share":0.063,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":118,"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["El Segundo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":170000,"max":240000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":240000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"RTOS","optional":false},{"name":"Simulink","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-05-19T20:38:45Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-12","last_verified_at":"2026-11-05T05:36:27Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":169,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":["company_stale"],"days_open":169},"description":"A New Paradigm For Space Operations.\nWho We Are: \nSpace Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations - one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attritable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different - an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures - where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.\nThis is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space\nWhat You’ll Do:\nWe are seeking a Senior Real-Time / Controls Software Engineer to lead development of deterministic real-time control software supporting high-speed electromechanical aerospace systems. This role will own motor-control implementation, release timing logic, safety interlocks, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) integration for critical system functions.The ideal candidate understands both controls theory and low-level real-time software implementation and can translate GNC, MATLAB/Simulink, and Python-based models into reliable embedded flight-like control software operating in a fast-paced hardware development environment.\nJob Responsibilities:\nDevelop deterministic real-time control software for electromechanical aerospace systems \nOwn motor-control implementation, release timing logic, and safety interlock architecture \nTranslate MATLAB/Simulink and Python-based control models into production-quality real-time software \nSupport development and integration of guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) related algorithms \nDesign and execute hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing and integration activities \nWork closely with GNC, electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering teams during development and test \nSupport integration, debugging, and validation of control systems on prototype hardware \nDevelop software interfaces for sensors, actuators, motor controllers, and embedded hardware systems \nSupport system-level testing, troubleshooting, and rapid iteration during development campaigns \nParticipate in technical reviews, architecture discussions, and safety-critical design decisions \nWhat It Takes:\nBachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Robotics, or related field OR Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or related field \n5+ years of experience in embedded software, controls software, or real-time systems development \nStrong understanding of real-time software architecture and deterministic system behavior \nExperience with motor controls, actuator systems, or embedded control loops \nExperience working with MATLAB/Simulink and translating models into deployable software \nStrong programming experience in C/C++ and Python \nExperience supporting integration and testing of hardware/software systems \nExperince working with space systems\nWhat We’d Love:\nPhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, or a related field. Compensation will be commensurate with experience, education, and demonstrated technical depth.\nAerospace, defense, robotics, or autonomous systems background \nExperience with HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) simulation and testing \nFamiliarity with GNC algorithms and controls development workflows \nExperience supporting high-speed dynamic systems or safety-critical systems \nFamiliarity with embedded Linux, RTOS, FPGA interfaces, or low-level hardware communication protocols \nStartup or rapid-prototyping experience preferred\nReal-time embedded systems \nControl loop implementation \nMotor controllers and actuator interfaces \nSensor integration and signal processing \nSimulation and modeling workflows \nSystem debugging and integration testing \nCross-functional engineering collaboration \nWhere You’ll Be: \nThe position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA. Domestic travel may be required (up to ~20% of the year). \n\nWhat We Offer: \nEquity-Based Compensation\n401(k) retirement plan with a 3.5% company match\nHighly Competitive PTO\nPaid company holidays + winter break \nComprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance\nUnique Performance-based bonus opportunities\nITAR Requirements: \nTo conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here \nEqual Employment Opportunity: \nSpace Kinetic provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, disabilityor any other legally protected status. \nThe annual base salary for this role is below. Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education/experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity. \nPay Range\n$170,000—$240,000 USD","description_format":"text","description_chars":6077,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Retirement plans","Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space & Aerospace","Missiles","Space Services"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-11T14:41:29Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":32,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.723,"p_room":0.44,"age_days":169,"expected_fill_days":118,"reasons":["conf:0","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-11-05T05:54:30Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":240000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacekinetic-senior-real-timecontrols-software-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacekinetic-senior-real-timecontrols-software-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-05T06:13:33Z","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":7704,"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":685289},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=685289"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fspacekinetic-senior-real-timecontrols-software-engineer"},{"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%2Fspacekinetic-senior-real-timecontrols-software-engineer"},{"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%2Fspacekinetic-senior-real-timecontrols-software-engineer"},{"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/spacekinetic-senior-real-timecontrols-software-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fspacekinetic-senior-real-timecontrols-software-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":747542}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"spacekinetic.com","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":747542},"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. 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