Senior Manager, Flight Software

Location:

This role is based onsite at our office in Louisville, CO, with the option to work a few days a week remotely.

Travel:
Up to 5%

Job

About Capella

Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next-generation compute to deliver secure, mission-ready intelligence. Capella's culture is built on collaboration, rigorous engineering, and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthen global stability and security. Team members work side-by-side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems, quantum-enabled technologies, and mission-critical operations.

Capella values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically underrepresented in technology, national security, and aerospace. No prior space experience is required. Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capella's ability to innovate and deliver meaningful impact for partners worldwide.

The Role

As the Senior Manager of Flight Software at Capella, you will lead the team responsible for developing and maintaining the software that runs Capella's satellite fleet in space. You will oversee the full flight software organization, supporting mission-critical development and on-orbit operations across multiple programs. In this role, you will set the technical direction and execution strategy for flight software, while building and scaling a high-performing engineering team.

You'll partner closely with electrical, FPGA, systems, and ground software teams to deliver robust and reliable spacecraft software. This position offers the opportunity to shape the future of Capella's flight software architecture, drive engineering excellence, and ensure consistent delivery of high-quality software across the fleet.

Responsibilities

* Lead and manage the flight software engineering team, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, and career development.

* Own the overall technical direction, architecture, and execution strategy for flight software across programs.

* Ensure consistent delivery of high-quality, mission-critical software for on-orbit and pre-launch systems.

* Drive and uphold engineering best practices, including code reviews, automated testing, documentation, and design reviews.

* Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to align software development with system-level requirements and mission goals.

* Oversee software planning, roadmap development, and prioritization across multiple efforts.

* Support and guide architectural decisions, trade studies, and long-term technical investments.

* Maintain strong visibility into program execution, proactively identifying risks and ensuring timely delivery of milestones.

* Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement within the team.

* Contribute to strategic planning and organizational growth as Capella scales.

Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).

* 10+ years of experience in software engineering, with 2+ years managing or leading engineering teams (embedded or aerospace preferred).

* Strong background in real-time embedded systems, including bare-metal, RTOS, and Linux environments.

* Proficiency in C and C++ (C++ experience highly preferred); experience with scripting languages such as Python or shell scripting.

* Experience defining system architecture and technical strategy.

* Familiarity with embedded Linux, Linux kernel modules, and development tools.

* Experience with microcontrollers and SoCs (e.g., Xilinx Zynq) and hardware/software integration.

* Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to align cross-functional teams and drive execution.

* Working knowledge of modern software development practices including Git, CI/CD, and automated testing.

Required Qualification

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.,…