Job Description
The Senior Flight Software Engineer at Planet is responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing embedded software for their satellite fleet, ensuring reliable and scalable operations in space while collaborating with cross-functional teams to solve complex engineering challenges.
Key Responsibilities
- Define, develop, maintain, and optimize embedded flight software for satellites.
- Lead root cause analysis and implement fixes for complex software defects across various runtimes.
- Design and implement system interfaces and APIs to ensure high performance and reliability.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop end-to-end solutions for satellite operations.
- Evaluate and recommend new technologies, tools, and methodologies for embedded systems.
- Provide technical leadership in planning and executing critical software projects.
- Mentor junior engineers and foster a culture of technical excellence.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science (CS), Computer Engineering (CE), Electrical Engineering (EE), or a related field OR equivalent work experience.
- Six (6) years of professional experience in developing C and C++ applications, preferably targeting both Linux- and RTOS-mediated runtimes.
- Experience with FreeRTOS, ChibiOS, Zephyr, RTEMS, QNX, or VxWorks operating systems.
- Familiarity with Python for use in data analysis, test development, and target characterization.
- Expertise in software development for embedded systems, including experience with real-time schedulers, task prioritization, deterministic execution, and memory-constrained environments.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts and tradeoff spaces to engineers, satellite operators, and engineering project managers.
- A proven track record in leading complex projects and delivering impactful results in embedded software development.
- Hands-on experience with hardware debugging tools such as logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and protocol analyzers to troubleshoot and validate embedded systems.
- Familiarity with IPv4, IPv6, and application-level network transport protocols.
- Experience working with chip-to-chip protocols such as CAN, UART, SPI, and I2C.
- Professional experience working under agile development methodologies using the Git version control system.
- Ability to lead root cause analysis and implement comprehensive fixes for complex defects across targets and runtimes including bare-metal, RTOS, and Linux-based application code.
- Ability to decompose high-level functional requirements into actionable implementation roadmaps and design robust, well-tested abstractions that ensure system scalability and maintainability.
- Experience in designing and deploying critical infrastructure that meets operational demands and scales effectively to support evolving missions.
- Ability to collaborate with operators and stakeholders to iteratively refine systems to meet operational needs and broader organizational goals.
- This position requires access to export-controlled information, and candidates must be able to access all applicable export-controlled information without additional export licensing being required by the Bureau of Industry and Security or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
Benefits & Perks
Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision plans
Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
Generous Paid Time Off in addition to holidays and company-wide days off
16 Weeks of Paid Parental Leave
Wellness Program and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Home Office Reimbursement
Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
Equity
Commuter Benefits if local to an office
Salary range: 162,600 - 203,200 USD (for San Francisco location)
Ready to Apply?
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