Rocket Lab is hiring a Senior Flight Software Engineer

ABOUT ROCKET LAB Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering responsive launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, payloads, satellite components, and more – all with the goal of opening access to space. The rockets and satellites we build and launch enable some of the most ambitious and vital space missions globally, supporting scientific exploration, Earth observation and missions to combat climate change, national security, and exciting new technology demonstrations. Our Electron rocket has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered more than 230 satellites to orbit, all while we work to develop Neutron, our upcoming medium-lift, reusable launch vehicle for larger constellation deployment. Our Space Systems business designs and builds our extensive line of satellites, payloads, and their components, including spacecraft that have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars and components used on the James Webb Space Telescope. While other companies talk about it, we do it! ABOUT SPACE SYSTEMS AT ROCKET LAB: Rocket Lab’s Space Systems team is responsible for every satellite and satellite component made by Rocket Lab: from complete satellites destined for missions to the Moon and Mars, to the individual components and subsystems that make up a satellite like solar panels, flight software, reaction wheels and star trackers, separation systems, radios, and more. Our Space Systems team is made up of engineers, technicians, and designers who design, create, and put together our own satellites for missions across the commercial, government, and defense sectors, or who build and assemble satellite hardware and software that supports other satellite missions. SENIOR FLIGHT SOFTWARE ENGINEER Join Rocket Lab's Space Systems Software team as a Senior Flight Software Engineer, where you'll serve as a technical expert developing cutting-edge flight software for spacecraft on orbit, next-generation autonomous satellite constellations, and embedded systems for our hardware product lines including Gauss thrusters, reaction wheels, and Frontier radios. WHAT YOU'LL GET TO DO: - Architect flight software solutions across three domains: sustaining engineering for current missions on orbit, next-generation FSW for autonomous satellite constellations (including C&DH, GNC/ACS, FDIR, mode management, and autonomy), and embedded software for hardware products like thrusters, reaction wheels, radios, star trackers, and IMUs - Lead system trade studies and design solutions in collaboration with Avionics Hardware, GNC, and Operations teams, balancing technical excellence with schedule and budget constraints across a diverse portfolio - Develop and maintain robust regression testing frameworks that span flight software and embedded software product lines, enabling rapid, reliable verification across missions and component releases - Guide multi-disciplinary engineering teams through anomaly resolution, technical risk identification and mitigation, and delivery of complex aerospace systems from concept through on-orbit operation - Define technical standards and best practices for the team, facilitate architecture meetings, approve designs, and communicate FSW architecture clearly to internal and external stakeholders - Mentor junior engineers through code reviews, training delivery, and on-the-job coaching while role-modeling professional behavior and technical excellence YOU'LL BRING THESE QUALIFICATIONS: - Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or similar, with minimum 5 years of professional experience in a relevant discipline - Deep technical expertise in C/C++, avionics software, embedded systems development on resource-constrained hardware, and ideally direct experience with aerospace system development, integration, and on-orbit operations - Strong software development skills including REST APIs, Linux development environments, TypeScript/JavaScript, NodeJS, Angular or similar frontend frameworks (React, Vue), Git, and Python - Excellent problem-solving and communication abilities, with proven capacity to manage complex projects, adjust to evolving requirements, clearly articulate technical concepts, and inspire teams to deliver - Cross-functional collaboration mindset with awareness of spacecraft disciplines such as propulsion, thermal, power, structures, GNC, and mechanisms, and ability to work effectively across diverse teams - Ownership mentality and positive attitude, willing to tackle any problem, see challenges as motivation, maintain professionalism under pressure, and consistently demonstrate a "how can I help?" approach THESE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE: - Experience with Docker/Kubernetes - Network programming expertise (Sockets/WebSockets) - Familiarity with NodeJS/NPM build systems and tooling - Elasticsearch experience If the above sounds like you apply now!