Contractor - Embedded Software Engineer; to consider

Contractor - Embedded Software Engineer (willing to consider all levels)

1 month ago Be among the first 25 applicants

This range is provided by Redwire Space. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

$64.00/hr - $105.00/hr

Where dreams and reality collide and the output is, out of this world. At Redwire Space, we are a team of dreamers and doers. Where the impossible becomes possible, and every day is an opportunity to learn and get one step closer to knowing the unknown. Join us on our mission to expand humanity's presence in space.

Redwire Space Missions, LLC in San Jose, CA is seeking a Contractor – Embedded Software Engineer (willing to consider all levels) for an initial period of 6 months, with the possibility of extension to join our team. In this position you will be expected to work predominantly on‑site. You will work collaboratively with our team to develop and innovative satellite solutions.

You will be responsible for hardware/software development during all phases of the development cycle, including requirements, design, implementation, test, integration, and documentation in a fast‑paced environment.

• Develop and maintain embedded software for spacecraft avionics, RF communications, and command & telemetry subsystems.
• Implement and integrate software supporting RF transceivers, modems, and encryption hardware for secure data links.
• Develop command and telemetry processing software including packet routing, protocol handling, and validation.
• Create and test device drivers and APIs for RF and command & telemetry hardware including crypto interfaces and key management.
• Perform end‑to‑end testing of spacecraft command and telemetry pathways from ground to flight hardware.
• Develop hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) and system‑level simulations to validate encrypted communications performance.
• Participate in integration and test campaigns including testbed bring‑up, anomaly resolution, and verification.
• Collaborate across RF, software, and systems teams to define interfaces, data formats, and timing requirements.
• Generate and maintain documentation for software requirements, design, test procedures, and verification.
• Contribute to flight readiness, ground system demonstrations, and functional validation of RF and command & telemetry subsystems.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience developing embedded software for aerospace, defense, or mission‑critical systems.
• Proficiency in C and C++ for embedded systems.
• Knowledge of RF and command & telemetry subsystems.
• Familiarity with serial and packet‑based interfaces such as RS‑422, MIL‑STD‑1553, CAN, Space Wire, or Ethernet.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem‑solving skills for integrated systems.
• Must have the ability to obtain a security clearance.
• Some limited travel required.

• Master’s degree in computer engineering, computer science, or a related discipline.
• Experience with flight software development or integration for spacecraft communications systems.
• Experience with Python or MATLAB for scripting or analysis.
• Experience with software version control and issue tracking (Git, Bitbucket, JIRA, Confluence).
• Experience developing on real‑time operating systems (RTOS) such as VxWorks, RTEMS, or FreeRTOS.
• Knowledge of encryption key management systems and secure key handling protocols.
• Experience with command and telemetry ground systems or mission operations software development.
• Familiarity with RF link analysis, modulation schemes, and bit error rate testing methods.
• Hands‑on experience performing software integration and system‑level verification in lab environments.
• Experience with encryption devices (e.g., KG‑series or Type
  1).
• Experience with CCSDS Space Link Extension (SLE) or equivalent ground communication systems.
• Knowledge of autonomy, FDIR, and fault management features related to communications subsystems.
• Experience developing or using digital twin or HIL environments for C&T; system validation.
• Experience leading small software teams or…