Flight Software Engineer - Space

Principal Flight Software Engineer – Space Tech

Inno Forge are partnering with a venture‑backed space and national security company developing a first‑of‑its‑kind space‑based system that redefines how assets are deployed, maneuvered and operated in orbit.

We’re seeking a Principal Flight Software Engineer to lead the design and development of mission‑critical flight software
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You’ll work in a fast‑moving, cleared prototyping environment, taking hardware from prototype through flight demonstration and into operational deployment.

This is a rare opportunity to own software architecture end‑to‑end for a system that will fly and directly shape future space and missile‑defense capability.

• Architect, implement, and deliver real‑time flight software supporting guidance, navigation & control, autonomy, telemetry, and fault management.
• Own software architecture and system‑level performance for a first‑of‑its‑kind space system.
• Lead technical design reviews, verification, validation, and integration with hardware and GNC teams.
• Develop high‑reliability embedded software in C/C++ (and/or Rust) within RTOS or bare‑metal environments.
• Drive software processes, mentor engineers, and establish best practices as the system matures toward flight.
• Support hardware‑in‑the‑loop, spacecraft‑in‑the‑loop, and flight testing in an agile, prototype‑driven program.

• 7+ years of experience developing embedded or real‑time software for space, aerospace, defense, or other mission‑critical systems
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• Deep proficiency in C/C++ and a strong understanding of deterministic, real‑time system behavior.
• Experience owning software across the full lifecycle — from early concept through integration, test, and operations.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast‑paced environments where first‑principles thinking is required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance (U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required).

• Work on a system that does not exist anywhere else today
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• Clear roadmap to a 2027 flight demonstration
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• Multi‑year funding and government backing
• Meaningful equity offered to early technical leaders
• Real ownership, real hardware, real impact

If you’re motivated by hard problems, real missions, and the chance to build something that will define a new category in space operations, we’d love to speak with you.

Contact Inno Forge in confidence to learn more.