Systems Engineer, Software (Systems Engineer, Staff) - Littleton, CO

Redwire’s Littleton, CO facility is Made for the Mission, delivering mission‑ready imaging and sensing technologies that support the most demanding robotic and human‑rated space missions. The team provides both off‑the‑shelf and custom‑designed cameras - from simple imagers to advanced machine‑vision systems - engineered to endure the extreme conditions of spaceflight. These camera systems meet stringent performance and reliability requirements, ensuring precise, consistent results across diverse mission profiles.

Redwire Space Missions LLC is seeking a Systems Engineer, Software to join our team in Littleton, CO. This role is critical to the success of our spacecraft programs and is ideal for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of software, hardware, and systems engineering. You will drive system-level architecture, guide software requirements development, lead integration activities, and ensure seamless interaction between software modules, avionics, networks, and spacecraft subsystems. This position requires a proactive engineer with strong technical judgment, the ability to lead cross-functional efforts, and deep experience across the full space systems lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of software-related system requirements, system behaviors, functional decomposition, software architectures, FSW high-level designs, and V&V planning
• Ensure integrated performance of flight software across spacecraft subsystems including Command & Data Handling, Guidance/Navigation/Control, Electrical Power, and RF Communications
• Develop software integration strategies, including simulation-based testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, test readiness planning, execution oversight, and closure
• Coordinate and contribute to major technical reviews including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and inform verification activities for RVCMs/RVTMs
• Define and maintain software-to-hardware and software-to-software interfaces; develop and manage Interface Control Documents and ensure cross-functional alignment
• Define FDIR / autonomy frameworks and designs for space vehicles to include cross-coordination with customers on mission operation solutions
• Support the creation and maintenance of test infrastructure, including modeling environments, test automation frameworks, software integration labs, and EGSE supporting software and system-level verification
• Provide technical management and oversight of vendor-provided/GFE software, ensuring software products meet mission requirements
• Produce clear, high-quality technical documentation including requirements artifacts, procedures, test plans, and engineering reports
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and daily guidance to software and multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the development lifecycle
• Contribute to system trade studies, design decisions, performance evaluations, and risk management activities for flight software and its interaction with spacecraft hardware
• Drive system-level thinking that considers performance, reliability, maintainability, and long-term lifecycle management of flight software

Ideal Experience

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum of 8+ years of engineering experience in the space industry or in embedded/real‑time systems
• Strong understanding of spacecraft systems engineering processes including requirements development, architecture design, integration & test, and mission operations
• Experience integrating software with embedded hardware, avionics, networks, or complex distributed systems
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams and collaborate across hardware and software disciplines
• U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain a DoD Security Clearance

Desired Skills

• Advanced degree in Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related discipline
• 5–8 years of experience in spacecraft engineering or embedded flight software development
• Experience supporting NASA/DoD lifecycle reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, etc.)
• Proficiency with requirements management tools such as JAMA or DOORS
• Experience with MBSE, SysML, or tools such as CAMEO Systems Modeler
• Background in spacecraft software systems, RTOS-based development, simulation frameworks, or hardware/software integration labs
• Active DoD Security Clearance
• Experience with spacecraft Command & Data Handling, avionics, or other subsystem software interfaces
• Broad systems engineering skill set and the ability to lead software integration across multiple spacecraft subsystems

Grow with us as we innovate the next generation capabilities for a new era of space exploration! We offer a highly competitive benefits package along with a commitment to our core values of Integrity, Innovation, Impact, Inclusion, and Excellence.

Pay Rate

$120,000 - $165,000/year

How We Determine What We Pay (Compensation Philosophy)

Redwire determines pay for positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data, for our locations throughout the US. We will evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index, in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company.

For new hires, we strive to make competitive offers allowing the new employee room for future growth. Salaries will be based on the applicant’s level of experience, education, and specialized knowledge and skills. Additionally, we consider the external market rate, the amount we have budgeted internally, and internal equity within the company for the same position. An employee/candidate with a stronger skill set will receive higher pay.

Redwire is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Redwire 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.

All offers of employment at Redwire are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check and your ability to provide proof of eligibility to work in the US. Note that some positions will also require US citizenship or ability to obtain a security clearance due to requirements of a classified program.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR Click Here

This position may require access to information, materials, or technology subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). To comply with these regulations, applicants may be asked to provide documentation to verify their status as a "U.S. person" as defined under the ITAR and EAR, or their eligibility to obtain any required U.S. Government export authorization. Redwire complies with all applicable anti-discrimination laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act, and does not discriminate on the basis of citizenship status or national origin except as required by law.