Flight Software Engineer

Location

Burlingame, CA

Full time

On-site

Satellite

• Range for base salary: $190K – $230K
  • Offers Equity

The final job level and salary will be determined based on a range of factors including the candidate’s education, qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities, and relevant experience. The listed salary range is provided to offer insight into potential compensation, but it’s not a guarantee of the final offer. While we include the full range to be transparent, offers most often fall within the middle portion rather than the top.

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

We're seeking a Staff Flight Software Engineer. You'll serve as a primary contributor to the flight software design, working to shape system interfaces and component interactions.

• Develop & Integrate
  :
  Implement embedded flight software modules in C++ on RTOS or space-grade frameworks; carry features from concept through flight-ready validation.
• System Validation
  :
  Plan and execute comprehensive hardware/software integration tests, including fault-injection scenarios and performance benchmarking.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  :
  Partner with hardware engineering, GNC, and operations to define interfaces, manage fault conditions, and implement mitigation workflows.
• CCSDS TT&C Integration
  :
  Develop and validate CCSDS-compliant Telemetry, Tracking & Command (TT&C) subsystems—implement frame assembly/disassembly, packetization, CRC/error-control coding, and end-to-end link workflows.
• Optimization & Reliability
  :
  Profile and tune software for CPU, memory, and I/O efficiency; contribute to FDIR logic and scheduler enhancements to maximize on-orbit reliability.
• Mentorship & Best Practices
  :
  Coach mid-level engineers through design reviews and code walks; promote coding standards, automated testing, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Documentation & Tooling
  :
  Produce clear technical artifacts - ICDs, test plans, runbooks - and help build digital tools for telemetry analysis and on-orbit diagnostics.

• Are passionate about writing clean, maintainable embedded code and enjoy collaborating on low-level hardware/software integration.
• Thrive in influencing technical outcomes through expertise and teamwork, without direct managerial authority.
• Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail, a methodical debugging approach, and strong analytical skills in real-time systems.
• Take pride in elevating team practices and sharing knowledge to drive continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail, a methodical debugging approach, and strong analytical skills in real-time systems.
• Take pride in elevating team practices and sharing knowledge to drive continuous improvement.

• Hands-on experience with on-orbit operations, telemetry analysis, or spacecraft HIL testbeds.
• Background in aerospace or other safety-critical industries.
• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field.

• Experience:
  
  8+ years developing C/C++ embedded software on RTOS or space-grade frameworks (cFS, F', TASTE, etc.).
• Integration & Testing:
  Proven track record executing full-system hardware/software validation and fault-injection test campaigns.
• Protocols & Interfaces:
  Deep expertise with RS-422/485, Ethernet, I2C, or similar communication buses in embedded environments.
• Real-Time Systems:
  Solid understanding of real-time scheduling, FDIR principles, and performance profiling under resource constraints.
• Communication:
  Excellent written and verbal skills for cross-team collaboration and technical documentation.
• CCSDS Expertise:
  Hands-on experience implementing CCSDS Telemetry (TM) and Telecommand (TC) packet standards, including header/payload formats, Virtual Channel multiplexing, and CRC/error-control procedures.

For U.S. Roles: To comply…