Principal Software Engineer- Flight Systems

Principal Software Engineer – Space Systems
Location: Greater Denver, CO (on-site 3–5 days/week)
Salary: $160k–$195k + bonus + benefits + relocation

A fast-growing space-technology company is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead architecture and development of ground and flight software for lunar and deep-space missions. This is a high-impact role influencing technical direction across multiple mission programs.

What You’ll Do

• Lead architecture decisions and guide software best practices across the organization.
• Develop flight software (cFS, embedded Linux), ground systems (Python, modern web frameworks), and cloud/embedded ML or autonomy systems.
• Own full lifecycle delivery: requirements, development, testing, integration, and ops.
• Provide technical proposals, estimates, and cross-team coordination.
• Mentor and uplift junior engineers.

What We’re Looking For

• 15+ years in spacecraft, mission control, or complex aerospace software systems.
• Expertise in C/C++ and Python.
• Experience with embedded Linux, real-time/flight software, and preferably NASA cFS.
• Knowledge of cloud services (AWS), containerization, version control, and Agile processes.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and operate within rigorous engineering standards.
• U.S. Citizenship and eligibility for a Security Clearance; must meet export-control requirements.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation + signing bonus
• Health insurance
• 401(k)
• Flexible time off
• Quarterly incentives
• Relocation support