Senior Flight Software Engineer I​/II

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an end‑to‑end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more—all with the goal of opening access to space. Our rockets and satellites enable scientific exploration, Earth observation, climate‑change missions, national security and technology demonstrations.

Senior Flight Software Engineer I/II – based at our headquarters in Long Beach, CA. In this role, you will design, develop, test and operate flight software for our Space Systems programs under a real‑time operating system (RTOS) or embedded Linux environment. Your work will be flown into orbit within weeks or months, providing opportunities to participate in flight operations.

• Develop application software for RTOS and/or embedded Linux.
• Create hardware drivers to interface with IMUs, star trackers, reaction wheels and other spacecraft components.
• Maintain comprehensive unit test suites within a continuous integration framework.
• Collaborate with hardware‑in‑the‑loop test engineers to validate combined software/hardware functionality.
• Work with systems and embedded systems engineers to document and validate requirements.
• Review source‑code changes to ensure compliance with company coding standards.
• Participate in design reviews such as Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and Critical Design Review (CDR).
• Assist with on‑orbit flight operations.

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or an equivalent technical field.
• 5+ years of demonstrable experience in embedded software development.
• Proficiency in C and C++.
• Experience with RTOS or embedded Linux.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.
• U.S. citizenship required.

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or an equivalent technical field.
• 8+ years of demonstrable experience in embedded software development.
• Proficiency in C and C++.
• Experience with RTOS or embedded Linux.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.
• U.S. citizenship required.

• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Advanced degree.
• Experience developing CAN/CAN‑FD or UDP/TCP drivers in an embedded system.
• Experience with autonomous vehicle software for harsh environments.

• Must meet vision requirements (close, distance, peripheral, depth, and focus).
• Regular use of hands, keyboard, controls, and verbal/written communication expected.
• Commute to headquarters physically required.
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, and moderate noise.

Rocket Lab provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment at Rocket Lab, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.