Linux Software Engineer

Linux Software Engineer

Simera Sense is a leading provider of Earth observation camera solutions for the global small satellite market. Committed to excellence and innovation, we deliver superior products and services to our worldwide customer base. Our Holdings Company is in Belgium, and our South African company is based in Somerset West, close to all amenities and diverse natural beauty, providing great lifestyle options.

Are you a skilled Linux Software Engineer ready to tackle complex challenges and build innovative solutions? We’re seeking a passionate professional to design, develop, and optimize software for Linux-based systems. In this role, you’ll work on cutting-edge projects that demand deep technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality code. If you thrive in collaborative environments and want to make an impact in technology, we’d love to hear from you.

Design, develop, and maintain robust, secure, and efficient embedded Linux software for edge computing platforms deployed in space, enabling autonomous data processing and decision-making in orbit.

• Contribute to the company’s space-edge computing roadmap, identifying innovation and scalability opportunities.
• Support cross-functional initiatives focused on autonomy, onboard intelligence, and in-orbit data sovereignty.

• Architect and implement embedded software solutions on Linux-based platforms tailored for space-grade edge computers.
• Customize and optimize Linux kernels, drivers, bootloaders and board support packages for performance and reliability in radiation-prone, low-power environments.
• Integrate real-time capabilities and ensure deterministic behaviour where required.

• Collaborate with hardware engineers to interface with custom boards, sensors, and space-qualified components.
• Develop and maintain hardware abstraction layers (HAL) and middleware to ensure seamless integration across subsystems

• Design fault-tolerant systems with watchdogs, redundancy, and recovery mechanisms to ensure continuous operation in orbit.
• Implement secure update mechanisms for remote patching and software upgrades post-launch.

• Develop and optimize onboard data processing pipelines for AI/ML inference, image analysis, and telemetry compression.
• Ensure efficient resource management (CPU, memory, I/O) for real-time edge workloads.

• Lead rigorous testing campaigns including unit, integration, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing.
• Simulate orbital conditions (thermal, radiation, latency) to validate software robustness.

• Work closely with mission systems, payload, and ground segment teams to align software capabilities with mission objectives.
• Maintain detailed documentation for software architecture, interfaces, and operational procedures.

• Ensure software adheres to space industry standards (e.g., ECSS, NASA, Cube Sat protocols) and cybersecurity best practices.
• Participate in internal audits and reviews to ensure flight-readiness and mission assurance.

• Stay abreast of emerging trends in embedded Linux, edge computing, and space-grade software systems.
• Experiment with new tools, frameworks, and kernel features that could enhance system performance or resilience in space environments.
• Pursue certifications, courses, or research relevant to aerospace software engineering and embedded systems.

• Explore novel approaches to onboard data processing, including AI/ML inference, distributed computing, and low-latency decision-making.
• Prototype and evaluate new software architectures that improve autonomy, fault tolerance, or energy efficiency in orbit.

Bachelor’s Degree or Advanced Diploma Computer Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Mechatronics Engineering, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering (with a strong software focus)