An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Flight Software Team Lead to join a growing space engineering organisation developing advanced spacecraft and satellite technologies.
This role will lead a Flight Software team responsible for the design, development, integration, validation, and maintenance of spacecraft flight software. You will play a key role in shaping the software architecture for satellite missions, ensuring robust development practices, high-quality delivery, and strong collaboration across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
Alongside your technical leadership responsibilities, you will also support the development and mentoring of engineers within the team, helping to build a strong and high-performing software capability.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the Flight Software team, overseeing the development, integration, validation, deployment, and maintenance of spacecraft flight software
- Plan and coordinate the team’s workload, creating schedules for flight software activities across multiple projects
- Ensure flight software is delivered to the required quality, schedule, and budget
- Mentor and develop team members, fostering a strong and collaborative engineering culture
- Act as a subject matter expert in flight software development and oversee the high-level architecture of spacecraft software systems
- Work closely with spacecraft subsystem and systems engineering teams to identify software requirements and solutions
- Support knowledge sharing across international engineering teams and contribute to technical reviews across programmes
- Establish and maintain the software development lifecycle and methodology for flight software development
- Collaborate with cyber security specialists to ensure secure software development practices are implemented
Essential Skills & Experience
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years’ experience developing flight software for satellite or spacecraft missions
- Experience leading engineering teams, either technically or through line management
- Strong embedded software development experience using C/C++
- Deep understanding of software development methodologies and lifecycle management
- Experience working with and modifying Board Support Packages (BSPs)
- Experience with UML-based design methodologies
- Experience developing real-time systems for spacecraft or embedded platforms
- Experience creating and implementing test plans for spacecraft software
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to lead technical workstreams while collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams
- Understanding of secure software development practices within space systems
- Experience developing flight software for space missions working with European Space Agency programmes
- Knowledge of ECSS standards for flight software
Desirable Skills
- Experience across the full spacecraft mission lifecycle from concept through to operations
- Knowledge of cFE / cFS flight software frameworks
- Understanding of ground segment architectures
- Familiarity with Agile or Scrum software development practices
- Experience with SysML
- Linux development and administration experience (shell scripting, make, etc.)
- Experience with Python or Bash scripting
- Familiarity with MATLAB, WindRiver VxWorks, CCSDS, CAN, SpaceWire
- Knowledge of microcontroller assembly languages
- Exposure to in-orbit servicing, debris removal, or end-of-life satellite technologies
- Understanding of ESA PUS protocol
Benefits
- Opportunity to work with a talented, diverse, and international engineering team.
- Flexible working around core hours in a collaborative, supportive environment.
- Hybrid working model with an optional 9/75 compressed schedule.
- 25 days’ annual leave (increasing with service) + 8 bank holidays.
- Private healthcare, life insurance, and long-term sick pay.
- Relocation assistance and visa sponsorship (where applicable).
- Modern office and cleanroom facilities.
- Regular social and professional development events.
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