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Rocket Lab · 11 hours ago

Principal Software Engineer /Senior Principal Software Engineer - TS/SCI

Long Beach, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$180K/yr - $255K/yr

12+ years exp

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services and spacecraft design. They are seeking a highly skilled Principal Software Engineer/Senior Principal Software Engineer to lead the design, development, and delivery of scalable software systems for space-based applications, ensuring mission success.

AerospaceManufacturingSoftwareSpace Travel

No H1B

Security Clearance Required

U.S. Citizen Only

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

Qualification

Flight Software DevelopmentEmbedded SystemsSoftware Architecture DesignCC++ ProficiencyPython for TestingGround Software SystemsHardware IntegrationRF CommunicationSystems-Level ThinkingContinuous IntegrationMicroservice ArchitecturesTeam LeadershipTechnical Mentorship

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

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

U.S. citizenship is required, due to program requirements

Active TS/SCI clearance is required

Preferred

Advanced degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, or a related field

Strong systems-level thinking with the ability to balance technical trade-offs across performance, security, and maintainability

Experience developing software and drivers with CAN/CAN-FD, SpaceWire, and/or UDP/TCP protocols

Experience leading teams and working with program management to plan out work and staffing

Expertise in microservice architectures, distributed systems, and modern web frameworks such as FastAPI

Full-stack development experience, including: Backend: Golang, and/or Rust. Frontend: Typescript and Angular. Database: InfluxDB, PostgreSQL, or equivalent

Familiarity with CCSDS standards, including Space Packet Protocol, COP-1, and CFD

Experience designing software for autonomous vehicles operating in harsh environments, such as satellites or autonomous vehicles

Expertise in Git-based workflows, CI/CD pipelines, and Kubernetes orchestration

Understanding of modern authentication/authorization frameworks (e.g., OAuth)