Senior Software Engineer

Senior Software Engineer

Location: Playa Vista, California (in-person, five days per week)

Outpost is building the return lane from space. We’re developing reusable vehicles that bring payloads home from orbit safely and precisely, enabling faster in-space manufacturing, global delivery, and entirely new capabilities in the space economy. 

We’re a mission-driven team that cares deeply about the work and the people doing it. We are in an exciting stage of growth, which means ownership from day one. Our engineers design hardware, test it, iterate on it, and watch it move toward flight. We are based in the aerospace hub of Playa Vista, where you can spend your days solving complex problems and your evenings on the beach or in the mountains. The work is meaningful, the team is collaborative, and the mission matters. If you want to see the systems you design make it to orbit—and back—come build with us. 

The Team

As Senior Software Engineer, you will be working with all aspects of the Outpost software stack, from application layer flight code, GNC integration, embedded systems, all the way to Ground Software. You'll collaborate closely with avionics hardware engineers, GNC specialists, and other team members to create efficient and sustainable solutions. This position offers the chance to engage in all aspects of spacecraft development, from system architecture and rapid prototyping to full flight/Earth-Return projects, managing flight hardware during ground tests, and providing mission operations support. 

Responsibilities

• Design and develop all flight, ground, & operations software for Outpost missions.
• Work cross functionally with all other disciplines (GNC, Power, Propulsion, and Thermal) to support algorithm implementation and integration into the software.
• Write quality bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based software for embedded processors in C/C++.
• Develop driver-level code to interface with sensors and actuators onboard the vehicle.
• Own the complete lifecycle of software development, from design, testing, to integration.
• Conduct bring-up activities in SITL and HITL environments to test avionics & software integration.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or another related field.
• Experience writing flight software that has flown in space.
• Minimum of 6 years of spacecraft software engineering or software development experience in C++ or a similar language.
• Work on-site in Playa Vista, CA.

Preferred Experience   

• Experience with FAA Part 450 commercial space launch and reentry licensing requirements.
• Experience writing safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications.
• Strong understanding of computer architecture and operating systems.
• Experience integrating GNC algorithms into FSW.
• Extensive spacecraft software development experience across a range of languages (e.g. C++/Python).
• Hands-on experience with serial protocols such as UART, CAN, I2C, SPI, and/or Ethernet(TCP/UDP).
• Hands-on experience with lab equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and digital multimeters.
• Familiarity with Docker, Git, CMake, and GNU tools.
• Ability to work independently and communicate effectively.

Compensation & Benefits

• $160k - $220k, Salary may vary with experience
• Incentive Equity
• Annual Performance-Based Bonus
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• PTO
• 401k with Company match
• Subsidized daily catered lunch, snacks and coffee

You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 ,or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State