Software Engineer Lead

Summary

You will be part of a team of driven and enthusiastic professionals working to revolutionize access to space. Vaya Space is a purpose driven, sustainability focused, and environmentally conscious enterprise dedicated to making a difference for humankind. Vaya's unique vortex-hybrid rocket is projected to disrupt the market, fueled by recycled thermoplastics, it utilizes the equivalent of 2 million discarded plastic bottles per launch. Our breakthrough and patented technologies overcome the safety, affordability, and sustainability issues to transform the space industry, making the world and space a better place.

As a Software Engineer Lead, you will be responsible for overseeing the design, development, testing, and documentation of mission critical software for the Dauntless launch vehicle, including both flight and ground systems software. 

To be successful, it is vital that you are comfortable working in a fast-paced and often uncertain environment, collaborating to develop innovative solutions in all areas, while demonstrating personal leadership, technical competence, and attention to detail. A willingness to branch outside your comfort zone is essential… we’re a small fast-paced company and everyone pitches in when needed.

Travel Required

Up to 10% 

Required Security Clearance

None (ITAR Eligible) 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance and oversight to development of launch vehicle flight, test, and ground support software 


• Ensure consistent documentation, testing, and integration of various software products into the overall program 


• Interface directly with the launch vehicle development team to integrate flight, test, and ground software into overall launch vehicle design


• Review and develop/update flight and ground software specifications


• Analyze COTS and vendor-proposed ground and flight software to ensure proper integration with the overall vehicle design 


• Manage cost, schedule, and performance for ground and flight software development and testing 


• Identify and communicate technical, cost, and schedule risks 


• Support configuration design studies and test article development 


• Develop flight and ground support software to enable robust, real-time, safety-critical, software systems 


• Support development of fault tolerant flight software responsible for the overall command and control of an autonomous launch vehicle 


• Oversee software development and integration testing efforts to integrate software components, create and run unit tests, and validate on Hardware-in-the-Loop testing 


• Produce/review technical documentation for software architecture, design, verification plans 


• Provide expert software engineering advice to executive leadership 


• Perform other duties as required 

Qualifications

• MSci in Software Engineering or another relevant engineering discipline


• BSci plus 8 years of relevant experience with flight or ground software for space systems can substitute for the MSci


• Minimum of 4 years of experience with flight software for space systems


• Demonstrated experience
  with embedded
  systems running safety-critical software on a Real-Time Operating
  System


• Experience in multiple elements of launch vehicle design cycle including trade studies, design and analysis, production, assembly, test support and data review


• Experience with flight and/or ground system software in a fielded space launch system.


• Strong understanding of software engineering principles


• Working knowledge of Git-based source control


• Project management fundamentals, including planning, tracking progress, and adjusting scope to meet goals


• Ability to read and interpret engineering standards and technical requirements and apply configuration management procedures


• Working knowledge of common aerospace software standards (e.g. NASA-STD-8739.8B
  or DO-178C )


• Excellent organizational, documentation, and communication skills (written, verbal, & graphical)


• Ability to communicate technical information effectively


• Willingness to work flexible hours as necessary


• US Person as defined in 22 CFR Part 120.15 (U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees and those given asylum in the United States, and temporary residents granted amnesty) since work includes ITAR controlled technical data

Preferred Skills and Education

• Experience with multiple software languages and development environments commonly used in space launch systems


• Experience with satisfying the requirements of 14 CFR 450.141 (Computing Systems)
  or previous launch vehicle license requirements


• Experience in leading technical interchange/communications with vendors and partners, both in the design and manufacturing environments


• Experience with hiring and leading a full-stack software development team


• Demonstrated understanding of telemetry data processing software


• High level understanding of packet processing algorithms and error detection/correction algorithms


• Understanding of vehicle network communication busses


• Experience with Atlassian products (Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket)


• Working knowledge of hybrid rocket engine concepts and practice


• Experience with MATLAB, LabVIEW, Python, and C++ or similar software