Flight Software Engineer (Platform)

Today, everything we send to space is constrained by what fits inside a rocket fairing. That's a fundamental bottleneck to building more capable spacecraft. Rendezvous Robotics is solving this problem with electromagnetic self-assembling tiles: modular spacecraft components that rendezvous, dock, and latch to assemble bigger and more powerful spacecraft than anything that can be folded to fit into a rocket.

We're a small team based in Golden, Colorado, executing on a clear path from flight demonstration to our first operational systems. Our work spans hardware, software, and systems engineering. We are looking for the best people in the world who want to build the next generation of advanced spacecraft.

Responsibilities & Ownership

The flight software platform the rest of the stack runs on: the component framework, real-time scheduling, and the integration that wires subsystems together

Hardware abstraction layers that enable board agnostic software development

The real-time Linux our vehicles boot: image build pipelines, provisioning, device identity, process supervision, and the health and update services

Firmware close to the hardware: deterministic control of sensors and actuators, and the serial protocols back up to the main compute

Build, test, and CI for flight software, and bringing new boards into the software stack alongside the avionics team

Basic Qualifications

Degree in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering, or equivalent experience

[ Senior level only ] 5+ years of relevant experience

Strong C++ and/or C, with a real understanding of how software runs on hardware

Embedded Linux: building, configuring, and debugging on resource-constrained systems

Comfort at the lower layers: device drivers, serial buses (UART, SPI, I2C), and reading a datasheet to ground truth

Preferred Qualifications

Component-based flight software frameworks such as F Prime, or other robotics and aerospace middleware

Microcontroller firmware (STM32 or similar), real-time control, and RTOS or bare-metal work

OS image build systems (Yocto, Buildroot) and provisioning or flashing pipelines

Real-time scheduling, CPU pinning, and latency tuning

CMake, CI for embedded targets, and hardware-in-the-loop testing

Compensation and Benefits

Engineer: $95,000 - $140,000

Senior Engineer: $140,000 - $175,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. In addition to the base salary, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options. You will receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.

ITAR Requirements

To 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 the ITAR here.

Equal Opportunity

Rendezvous Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Rendezvous Robotics is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.