Senior Software Test & Automation Engineer

Overview

Capella Space stands at the forefront of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology and signal intelligence. We provide customers in governments, academia, and commercial sectors with reliable information that enables unparalleled understanding of the world. Our mission is centered on delivering timely and reliable Earth imagery, supporting diverse applications in defense & intelligence, disaster response, energy, environmental monitoring and more. Utilizing cutting‑edge technology, Capella Space designs, manufactures and operates an advanced constellation of SAR imaging satellites.

Our market‑leading SAR satellites are complemented by an unmatched data infrastructure and automated ordering and delivery platform for fast, reliable insights where and when customers need it most.

Recognized for our technological prowess, Capella Space was honored as one of the 10 most innovative companies in Space in 2023 by FAST COMPANY. Capella Space is an internationally trusted Earth Observation data provider, working closely with the U.S. Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force, NASA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the Canadian Government and more to make unclassified, high‑resolution SAR data more accessible.

Capella Space is a highly collaborative team environment, providing an opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the space industry, though no prior space experience is needed. We’re looking for people excited about tackling seemingly impossible challenges, learning new skills and concepts, and helping each other achieve success. Our mission and our products are meant to understand the whole world and help everyone in it – regardless of race, creed, or any other distinction.

We encourage you to bring your unique perspective to help make us stronger, including applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech.

As the Software Engineering Manager for Flight Software at Capella, you will lead a team of engineers responsible for developing and maintaining the software that runs Capella’s satellite fleet in space. You will oversee a dedicated segment of the existing flight software team, supporting mission‑critical software development and contributing directly to the success of Capella's on‑orbit operations.

This role offers the opportunity to influence technical direction, grow and mentor engineering talent, and drive high standards of execution in a fast‑paced and collaborative environment. You’ll work alongside engineers and stakeholders across electrical, FPGA, systems, and ground software teams to deliver robust and reliable spacecraft software.

• Lead a team of flight software engineers responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining embedded software for satellite systems.
• Collaborate with peers and cross‑functional teams to ensure seamless integration between hardware and software components.
• Establish and uphold engineering best practices, including code reviews, automated testing, documentation, and design reviews.
• Mentor engineers through technical challenges, performance feedback, and career development.
• Support architectural discussions, software planning, and trade studies within the team’s scope of responsibility.
• Drive consistent and timely execution of project milestones and deliverables.
• Facilitate strong communication across engineering disciplines and ensure software solutions meet mission and system‑level requirements.
• Contribute to hiring, onboarding, and team growth efforts as Capella scales.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
• Experience managing or leading software engineering teams, particularly within embedded systems or aerospace domains.
• Strong foundation in real‑time embedded systems, including experience with bare‑metal or RTOS environments.
• Proficiency in C and C++ (C++ experience highly preferred); experience with scripting languages such as Python or shell scripting.
• Familiarity with embedded Linux, Linux kernel…