Software Development Engineer II

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

The Software Development Engineer II supports the development of software for space-based communication systems, satellite flight software, and mission data and operations platforms. This role applies established engineering principles and software development practices to design, implement, test, and integrate software across multiple layers of the software stack. Working under the guidance of senior engineers or engineering management, the engineer contributes to the full software development lifecycle including design, coding, testing, and system integration. The role collaborates closely with hardware, systems, and mission operations teams to develop reliable software solutions that enable satellite operations and mission success.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Design and implement software components supporting satellite systems, ground stations, and mission operations platforms.

• Develop software across multiple layers of the stack, including embedded systems, board support packages (BSP), device interfaces, and application-level software.

• Contribute to software architecture, block diagrams, and detailed software design documentation.

• Write, test, debug, and maintain code supporting mission-critical systems and operational software tools.

• Analyze software performance, stability, and scalability to improve system efficiency and reliability.

• Implement software features supporting data management, telemetry, command systems, and operational interfaces.

• Participate in code reviews and contribute to improving overall software quality and maintainability.

• Integrate software with hardware platforms, satellite subsystems, and mission operations infrastructure.

• Support software verification, validation, and qualification activities for high-reliability systems.

• Analyze system behavior, logs, and test outputs to diagnose and resolve software issues.

• Collaborate with hardware and systems engineers to ensure seamless system integration and performance.

• Support system testing activities including unit testing, integration testing, and system-level validation.

• Evaluate third-party or open-source software components for potential integration into mission systems.

• Document software designs, test procedures, and engineering findings in accordance with program requirements.

• Participate in engineering design reviews and contribute to technical discussions related to product development.

• Support development of engineering materials used for internal reviews and technical proposals.

• Work closely with cross-functional teams including hardware engineering, systems engineering, and mission operations teams.

• Provide technical input supporting product roadmaps and software development planning.

• Support post-production and operational software updates, including mission support when required.

• Contribute to maintaining software engineering best practices including configuration management and documentation standards.

• Assist in mentoring junior engineers through collaboration and technical knowledge sharing.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or relevant field.
2–5 years of relevant software engineering experience.

• Knowledge of software development practices used in aerospace, space systems, or high-reliability environments.

• Experience developing software across multiple layers of the software stack.

• Familiarity with embedded systems, microcontrollers, and board support packages (BSP).

• Understanding of flight software, mission operations systems, or similar real-time systems.

• Knowledge of software testing, validation, and qualification practices for mission-critical systems.

• Ability to analyze software performance and troubleshoot complex technical issues.

• Familiarity with software architecture concepts including modular system design and data flow management.

• Experience integrating software with hardware platforms and system-level components.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting and presenting technical information.

• Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary engineering teams.

• Ability to perform detailed software analysis and troubleshooting of complex technical systems.

• Ability to concentrate on development tasks requiring precision, logic, and analytical reasoning.

• Ability to review and interpret system requirements, technical documentation, and software specifications.

• Ability to work in office, laboratory, or engineering development environments.

• Occasional interaction with development hardware, test systems, and engineering prototypes.

• Ability to manage multiple development tasks within defined program schedules.

• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams in a dynamic development environment.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.