Flight Software Engineer

• As a Flight Software Engineer at Impulse, you will be responsible for the design, development, and integration of the software that powers our Space Vehicles
• You will work closely with avionics engineers, GNC engineers, propulsion engineers, and other cross-disciplinary teams to deliver high-reliability, high-performance software for in-space transportation
• Contribute to the design, implementation, integration, and verification of software for:
• Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) algorithms
• Command and telemetry handling
• Mission sequencing, autonomy, and fault management
• Closed-loop control of propulsion, attitude control, and other time-critical systems
• Implement features for Impulse’s real-time flight software framework to meet deterministic performance requirements in space environments
• Develop detection and mitigation algorithms for anomalies such as sensor failures, actuator malfunctions, or radiation-induced faults
• Direct and participate in code reviews, ensuring compliance with software safety, reliability, and maintainability standards
• Support mission operations and troubleshoot real-time issues during ground integration, environmental testing, and on-orbit operations

Benefits

• Medical, Dental & Vision: Enjoy the best medical, dental and optical coverage money can buy. We’ve got you and your family covered for all eventualities
• Company Ownership: You’ll be contributing to Impulse’s success, so you deserve to share in it. All full-time employees receive a meaningful equity allocation
• Flexible PTO Policy: We believe in work-life harmony more so than “balance”. When you are happy & fulfilled outside of work, you will be more productive when you’re in it. We offer generous PTO accrual to our full-time employees

• 2+ years writing C/C++ code for an embedded system or vehicle of some kind (robot, car, drone, spacecraft, etc)
• 4+ years of demonstrated experience in designing software for deterministic timing and hard real-time constraints
• Demonstrated understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, data structures, and computer networking
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related degrees
• Experience with Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS) or with Embedded Linux
• Experience using version control, test cases, and other software best practices
• Proven track record delivering flight software for spacecraft— including launch vehicles, OTVs, upper stages, or other in-space propulsion systems
• Familiarity with NASA cFS, ROS2, or custom middleware for space applications
• Participation in successful integration, testing, launch, and mission operations of a space vehicle