Principal Software Engineer (Contract)

This position offers FULLY REMOTE opportunities for candidates across the United States. Preferred work locations: Arlington VA, Denver CO, Houston, TX or Merritt Island, FL.

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc offers advanced solutions to meet the most complex U.S. defense, security, space, and intelligence requirements. Celebrating over 50 years in the US, we remain a trusted government partner, leveraging world-class satellite, laser communication, rotor and fixed wing solutions to help our national security, defense and space focused customers meet their missions.

Airbus U.S. looks to employ a commitment driven team, dedicated to enabling our customers mission success. We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment and a welcoming and engaging staff. With competitive compensation and superior employee benefits, as well as a commitment to fostering individual career growth, Airbus U.S. is the place where top talent wants to work.

Position Summary
Airbus U.S. Space & Defense is looking for an enthusiastic and creative software engineer to develop spacecraft flight software. Were looking for candidates who can bring exceptional embedded programming skills and strong experience in flight software to the team.

Position Responsibilities
The Software Engineers primary responsibility will be contributing to the development of Airbus U.S.s satellite flight software. This engineer will be involved in the full lifecycle of flight software development, from requirements definition through operations. However, because we are a small team where each person takes on many roles, this engineer will also contribute to mission concept development, in-house modeling and simulation capabilities, and proposal writing. Being at the cutting edge of space technology, we need someone who is eager to learn, grow, and take on new and potentially unfamiliar challenges. There is no shortage of fascinating problems to solve.

The Principal Software Engineer (Contractor) will lead and perform moderate and complex assignments, including providing guidance to junior Software Engineers. The Principal Software Engineer will have project and subject matter responsibility and authority.

Flight Software - 75%

Upgrade existing flight software for new missions

Contribute to the development of new satellite flight software for Airbus U.S. satellite platforms

Develop in-house tools to analyze flight software performance and assess its compatibility with new mission and conops

Develop and execute flight software tests at the unit, module, subsystem, and platform level

Work with manufacturing engineers to support installation onto the hardware-in-the-loop test environment and eventual flight hardware

Participate in anomaly resolution activities and patch existing flight software

Systems Modeling - 15%

Contribute to the development of systems- and mission-level modeling and simulation tools

Develop software models of payloads for ground testing

Support development of software model of satellite platform, particularly ensuring accurate representation of the flight software

Additional Responsibilities - 10%

Support working groups, both internal and with customers and/or vendors

Support proposal writing, new business

Assess the software impacts of new hardware, conops, and missions

Qualified Experience / Skills / Training
Education

Bachelors degree in STEM (Science, Technical, Engineering, Math) or related scientific areas.

Preferred: Masters in STEM (Science, Technical, Engineering, Math) or related scientific areas.

Experience

A minimum of 15 years with a Bachelors degree, or 12 years with a Masters degree

Proven track‑record of working with space hardware and/or flight software systems, starting from conceptual designs and tradeoffs through detailed design, development, manufacture, integration, test, deployment, and operations.

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities

Insatiable curiosity and a demonstrated ability to learn and work independently

Proficiency in C/C++

Expertise in one or more of the following:

Embedded software development (ARM 7 preferred)

BSP development

Device driver development and software/hardware interfaces (Ethernet/CAN/SpaceWire RMAP/1553/RS-422 preferred)

New board bring up

Real‑time operating systems programming, debugging, and testing (RTEMS and/or PetaLinux preferred)

Cybersecurity for Space Systems

GNC algorithms design, analysis, testing, and implementation

Functional validation of embedded software on HITL and/or SITL test beds

Software safety assurance

Network topology and configuration

Simulators: numerical, emulator, and hardware in the loop

Software requirements and configuration management

Travel Required

Periodic travel (less than 20%) to Airbus U.S. facilities or partner companies

Occasional International travel to collaborate with European Airbus counterparts

Eligibility

US Citizenship is required

Clearance

Ability to obtain and maintain a Government security clearance

Active DoD security clearance at Secret or above highly desirable

Physical Requirements

Vision: able to see and read computer screen and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents.

Hearing: able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds including safety warnings or alarms.

Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment.

Carrying: able to carry documents, electronic equipment and/or supplies up to 40lbs/9kg.

Lifting: able to lift documents, electronic equipment and/or supplies up to 40lbs/9kg.

Sitting: able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on computer.

Squatting / Kneeling: able to occasionally squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items shelved on bottom shelves.

Standing: able to stand for long periods of time.

Walking: able to walk through office and outside areas including uneven surfaces.

Equal Opportunity
Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status.

As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

By submitting your resume or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus. Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religious belief. Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to View email address on click.appcast.io.

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