Senior Spacecraft Software Test Engineer
- US citizenship
- ITAR / US person
How this pay compares
This posting states $150k–$200k a year. Open software engineer jobs in California post a median of $180k a year, the middle half $155k–$212k, across 449 jobs that state their pay, so this one is within the middle half of what they post.
About the job
As a Senior Spacecraft Software Test Engineer you will design, write, and debug tests to ensure that our flight software works as intended in orbit, working closely with a fast paced, agile software and GNC team.
Your tests will include ‘test like you fly’ and ‘day in the life’ tests to execute the software like it will be operated in orbit in both the simulation and in a 'hardware in the loop' closed loop setup, integrating with hardware emulators and probing for off nominal situations and testing all of the commands through the integrated software. ## Responsibilities - Develop test plans for the flight and ground software - Implement flight software integration/regression tests in python - Support debug of flight software testing in C/C++ - Support bring up of docker containers and software simulations - Support bring up of hardware in the loop test environments - Integrating the tests with hardware emulators for sensors and actuators - Support the automatic running of the integration tests as part of CI/CD - Work with GNC and ops to create ‘day in the life' tests ## Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science or related field - 3+ years developing test plans and test scripts for embedded applications - 5+ years of experience with Python and C++ ## Preferred Skills and Experience - Experience with spacecraft command and data handling software - Experience with spacecraft operations - Demonstrated ability of taking project ownership and working well in growing teams ## Additional Information Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data.
Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S.
Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here .
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
From Impulse Space's job posting, checked 7 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
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About Impulse Space
Transfer vehicles that carry satellites past the orbit their rocket leaves them in.
Pay on its listings: 100% of its open jobs state an hourly rate
How it pays: Paid as an employee on Impulse Space's own payroll (salaried or hourly, as each posting states).
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