Job Title:
Lead Avionics Software Engineer
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
Employment Type:
Full-time
Salary Range:
From $130,000 to $170,000 depending on experience
About ThinkOrbital:
ThinkOrbital is developing breakthrough technologies to defend, service, and build in space. From pioneering autonomous welding in orbit to long-range X-ray imaging systems for space domain awareness and infrastructure inspection, we are redefining what’s possible in the final frontier. Our team is made up of driven engineers, scientists, and operators who thrive in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment.
Position Summary:
We’re looking for a Software Lead to join our team and own the architecture, development, and delivery of onboard software across our aerospace programs. This is a hands-on role that involves close collaboration with cross-disciplinary teams, including systems, hardware, and program leadership, to design, build, and deploy reliable flight software. You’ll be responsible for driving technical decisions, guiding development from concept through integration and test, and ensuring our software performs in demanding, real-world environments
Job Description
- Own the onboard software architecture and technical decision-making across aerospace programs, ensuring alignment with mission objectives, system requirements, and long-term scalability
- Design, implement, and maintain embedded Linux-based flight software in C++, delivering robust and reliable capabilities from concept through deployment
- Collaborate with systems, hardware, and program teams to define, refine, and manage software requirements, including derived requirements and verification strategies
- Lead development of low-level drivers and hardware interfaces, ensuring seamless integration across avionics, payloads, and supporting subsystems
- Drive software quality through development and maintenance of unit, integration, and system-level tests, supporting verification and validation efforts
- Support hardware bring-up, system integration, debugging, and validation across lab and flight environments
- Participate in full software lifecycle activities, including architecture definition, development, integration, test, deployment, and on-orbit support
- Contribute to software development processes, standards, and best practices, including code reviews, documentation, and continuous improvement initiatives
Requirements:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
- Must be a US Citizen or Green Card Holder
- 7+ years of experience developing embedded or hardware-integrated software systems
- Strong proficiency in C/C++ and embedded Linux development
- Experience owning software architecture and delivering systems from concept through integration, test, and deployment
- Hands-on experience interfacing with hardware (e.g., Ethernet, SPI, I2C, UART) and debugging system-level issues
- Strong understanding of software architecture principles for embedded or distributed systems
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical efforts and drive alignment across cross-functional teams
- Experience in aerospace or other high-reliability systems preferred
Preferred skills:
- Passion for space and understanding of space environment
- Experience with flight software or space-based systems
- Experience with multi-threading and utilization of multiple cores
- Familiarity with fault-tolerant or safety-critical system design
- Experience working in resource-constrained or high-reliability environments
- Exposure to lab-based hardware testing and validation workflows
- Experience with GoogleTest or similar C++ testing frameworks
- Experience with Git
What We Offer:
- Competitive benefits and stock options
- Health, Vision and Dental Insurance
- Opportunity to shape next-generation space systems
- A small, fast-moving team where your impact is tangible
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $130,000.00 - $170,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
