Rocket Lab is seeking a Principal Software Engineer/ Senior Principal Software Engineer to lead the design, development, and delivery of scalable, reliable, and mission-critical software systems for space-based applications, with the goal of opening access to space and supporting national security and space exploration.
Requirements
- Proven expertise in architecting scalable and reliable software systems for aerospace or defense applications.
- Proficiency in C and C++ for embedded software development and python for testing.
- Experience with both DIO and AIO (Digital and Analog Inputs and Outputs).
- Experience with integrating hardware, including implementing ICDs, and debugging.
- Experience with deriving the Flight Software architecture from the electrical design including reading a master ICD list and/or schematics.
- Experience with RF ground to space communication.
- Proficiency in microservice architectures, distributed systems, and modern web frameworks such as FastAPI.
Responsibilities
- Lead Software Architecture Design: Define and evolve the end-to-end software architecture for flight and ground systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, security, and mission success.
- Develop Flight Software: Design application software for spacecraft operating within Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) such as VxWorks, or embedded Linux, including hardware drivers for spacecraft sensors and actuators such as IMUs, Star Trackers, and Reaction Wheels.
- Build Ground Software Systems: Architect and deploy web-based ground software platforms for spacecraft operations, integrating flight and ground systems to support diverse mission profiles.
- Test and Validate Systems: Develop unit tests within a Continuous Integration (CI) framework and collaborate with hardware-in-the-loop test engineers to verify combined software and hardware functionality.
- Collaborate and Lead: Provide technical direction and mentorship to engineering teams, act as a trusted advisor to leadership, and partner with stakeholders to align software systems with mission requirements.
- Support On-Orbit Operations: Ensure software performance in harsh environments and contribute to mission-critical operations.
Other
- U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements
- Active TS/SCI clearance is required
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline.
- 12+ years of professional software development experience, including embedded systems and ground software.
- Must be physically able to commute to buildings
