Key Responsibilities

• Define and develop spacecraft flight software architectures, including mission management, command-and-control, telemetry, state management, and fault detection and recovery.

• Develop embedded C/C++ software for spacecraft processors, payload controllers, and distributed computing systems.

• Develop and integrate software using embedded Linux, real-time operating systems, and flight software frameworks.

• Implement deterministic, timing-critical software for spacecraft operations, mission execution, and payload control.

• Develop device drivers, hardware interfaces, and communication protocols for sensors, actuators, processors, and FPGA-based electronics.

• Integrate software with laser systems, optical payloads, pointing and tracking systems, spacecraft power electronics, and ground control systems.

• Define subsystem software interfaces, data flows, synchronization, timing requirements, startup behavior, and fault responses.

• Perform embedded processor bring-up, software optimization, debugging, and hardware/software troubleshooting.

• Integrate existing code, third-party software, and internally developed applications into reliable embedded flight systems.

• Develop automated testing, software-in-the-loop, and hardware-in-the-loop verification capabilities.

• Support spacecraft integration, system verification, environmental testing, and mission-readiness activities.

• Provide technical leadership through software architecture reviews, design documentation, troubleshooting, and guidance to other engineers.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

• 10+ years of professional software development experience, including significant experience with embedded or real-time systems.

• Strong proficiency in C and C++ for embedded software development.

• Extensive experience developing software for embedded systems, real-time operating systems, or similar computing environments.

• Strong understanding of operating systems, concurrency, synchronization, interrupts, scheduling, and real-time performance.

• Experience developing software that interfaces directly with embedded processors, custom electronics, sensors, actuators, or other hardware.

• Experience with embedded communication interfaces, network protocols, and distributed computing systems.

• Experience with software configuration management, version control, software testing, and system integration.

• Strong understanding of hardware/software interactions and the ability to troubleshoot issues across both domains.

• Demonstrated ability to independently develop, integrate, debug, and verify complex embedded software systems.

• Strong technical judgment, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Ability to work onsite in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing spacecraft flight software, avionics, payload controllers, or mission-management systems.

• Experience with NASA Core Flight System (cFS), VxWorks, RTEMS, or real-time Linux.

• Experience with ARM processors, embedded Linux kernel development, device drivers, or board-support software.

• Experience with SpaceWire, CAN, Ethernet, RS-422/485, SPI, I2C, UART, or similar communication protocols.

• Experience integrating embedded software with FPGAs, signal processing hardware, or custom electronics.

• Experience with radar, LiDAR, optical sensing, pointing and tracking systems, or high-power laser systems.

• Experience with Python, Bash, automated test development, and hardware-in-the-loop verification.

• Familiarity with spacecraft fault detection, isolation, recovery, and radiation-tolerant computing.

• Experience providing technical leadership, conducting software design reviews, or mentoring engineers.

Candidate Attributes

• Technical Leadership: Able to define software architectures, make sound engineering decisions, and guide development activities.

• Hands-On Execution: Comfortable developing, integrating, debugging, and testing embedded software and hardware interfaces.

• Systems Thinking: Understands how software, processors, electronics, communications, controls, and spacecraft subsystems interact.

• Ownership and Problem Solving: Takes responsibility for software development from initial architecture through integration, verification, and mission readiness.

• Collaboration: Works effectively across electrical, software, controls, optical, power, mechanical, and systems engineering teams.

What We Offer

At Mantis Space, the opportunity goes far beyond joining another engineering team. You will help build foundational technology for the future of orbital operations, collaborate with accomplished technical leaders, and have a meaningful voice in how complex systems—and the organization behind them—take shape. We pair that mission with a competitive rewards and benefits experience designed to support you at work and beyond:

• Work on a bold mission — Help develop first-of-its-kind orbital energy infrastructure that could change how spacecraft operate and enable future space missions.

• Make a visible impact — Join a growing, highly collaborative team where technical expertise, initiative, and thoughtful engineering decisions can shape the product and our processes.

• Competitive total rewards — Competitive compensation and potential stock option participation, subject to eligibility, company plan terms, and Board approval.

• Health coverage that matters — Company-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for eligible employees, with multiple plan options available.

• Invest in your future — 401(k) retirement plan with a company match of up to 6%, subject to plan terms.

• Time to recharge — Unlimited PTO as described in company recruiting materials, subject to the applicable time-off policy and role requirements, along with other available paid leave programs.

• Support for life beyond work — Access to eligible mental health and employee assistance resources, family-building support, wellness and fitness offerings, and care-navigation benefits.

• Everyday extras — Eligible cell phone and internet stipends, plus additional voluntary benefits and employee discount programs.