Senior Flight Software Engineer

About Capella Space

Capella Space is a pioneer in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite technology and space-based signal intelligence. We empower government commercial and research organizations around the world with high-resolution timely Earth insights that drive better decisions - across defense and intelligence disaster response infrastructure monitoring environmental protection energy and more.

As a U.S.-based company Capella designs builds and operates an advanced constellation of commercial SAR satellites in orbit today. Our satellites are backed by a fully automated tasking collection and delivery platform delivering fast reliable insights when and where our customers need them most. As a subsidiary of IonQ a global leader in quantum computing Capella is charting the future of Earth observation. Together were on a mission to bring quantum computing to space - unlocking ultra-secure encrypted uplink and downlink capabilities reducing latency and enabling powerful on-orbit analytics. This visionary integration of advanced remote sensing and quantum technology will support customers with the highest level of data fidelity security and speed.

Capella was named one ofFast Companys 10 Most Innovative Companies in Space in 2023and is a trusted partner of the U.S. Space Force U.S. Air Force U.S. Navy NASA the National Reconnaissance Office and allied government agencies worldwide. Built In recognized IonQ on three of its 2025 Best Places to Worklists.

What Makes Capella Unique

At Capella we dont just imagine whats possible - we build it. Were a mission-driven team fueled by curiosity grit and a shared commitment to redefining the limits of space innovation. Our environment is fast paced rooted in humble collaboration. Every team member plays a critical role in shaping the future of our technology and our industry. If youre ready to roll up your sleeves and help solve problems that others call impossiblewere the place for you. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere and we thrive on diverse perspectives that help us move faster think deeper and push the boundaries of innovation. Whether youre new to the space industry or a seasoned expert youll find a team that values creativity integrity and bold thinking. Join us as we build the future of SARand take quantum to space.

About the Role

As a software engineer on the Flight Software team you will be writing the software that runs our satellite fleet in space! You will interact daily with other software engineers FPGA developers electrical engineers and various other subsystem owners to develop maintain and implement new features for the spacecraft software. You will have a demonstrable track record of working with complex systems understanding systems architecture and setting the engineering development plan making complex radar technologies easy to use.

Role Responsibilities

• Design develop and maintain flight software for satellite systems.
• Collaborate with EE FPGA and ground software engineers to ensure seamless integration between hardware and software.
• Conduct code reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members.
• Write and maintain unit and integration tests to ensure robustness and reliability of the software.
• Develop software documentation and provide cross-training to other team members.
• Troubleshoot and resolve software issues in a timely manner.
• Participate in the software development life cycle from requirement analysis to deployment.
• Support integration and operations teams with software-related queries.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in computer science computer engineering electrical engineering or related field of study.
• At least 7 years relevant work experience.
• Ability to support a design through all software lifecycles including initial schematic review and architectural tradeoffs preliminary and detailed design implementation integration and test.
• Experience working with real-time embedded systems - both hardware and software including low-level drivers.
• Proven experience withARM NEON SIMD architecture including instruction-set usage vectorization strategies and performance profiling on ARM Cortex A-series or embedded platforms.
• Hands on experience developing testing and debugging hard real-time software (bare-metal or RTOS).
• Familiarity with embedded Linux Linux kernel modules and standard Linux tools.
• Strong knowledge of programming compiled (C C) and scripted (Python shell script etc.) languages.
• Experience writing software for microcontrollers and other embedded systems e.g. Xilinx Zynq SoCs.
• Familiarity with software configuration management.
• Hand-on experience with lab equipment and electronics hardware e.g. oscilloscopes logic analyzers.
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder) or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce as applicable. Learn more about ITARhere.

Compensation

The annual salary range for this role as it is posted is $165853 - $207317. The final job level and annual salary will be determined based on the education qualification knowledge skills ability and experience of the final candidate(s) specific office location and calibrated against relevant market data and internal team equity. Benefits listed in this posting may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Capella Space.

Benefits/Perks

In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We provide extensive medical coverage including strong vision and dental plans flexible spending accounts and additional supplemental health options.
• Paid Flexible Time Off Policy
• 401K Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Parental Leave program
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Commuter & Parking Benefits
• Mental Health Resources
• Monthly Phone Stipend
• Furry friends Weve got you covered with dog-friendly work environment & them with pet insurance options

Equal Opportunity Statement

Capella Space is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and upholding equitable hiring practices.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability protected veteran status or any other characteristic under federal state or local law including those with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities women Veterans and those with disabilities to apply and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you need assistance or require an accommodation during the job application process please notify

To learn more about us explore our site: and follow us on X and LinkedIn to see our SAR imagery!