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Flight and ground software

Space Jobs for Software Engineers

, SpaceJobs.Now lists 1,993 open roles for software engineers on , including Muon Space, Array Labs and Anduril; typical pay across them is $142k to $271k a year (median $169k), topped by $381k a year advertised at Lockheed Martin.

See 1,993 roles for software engineers
$142k–$271k/yrtypical paylive median $169k/yrup to $381k/yr at Lockheed Martin

Measured from 1,295 distinct posted rates, across 81 employers, each as a year's pay (an hourly rate × 2,080 hours). 543 of the 1,993 listings open here post no pay at all.

Space companies hire software engineers for the code that flies the vehicle and the software on the ground that builds, tests and operates it. Each listing here is re-verified on the employer's own job board once an hour.

Live roles for software engineers

Updated 1 Nov 2026, 03:02 UTC

Flight and embedded software

382 open

Software that runs on the vehicle: flight software, embedded and real-time code, firmware.

Show 372 more flight software roles

Ground, mission and test software

243 open

Software on the ground: mission control and operations tools, telemetry, simulation and test software.

Show 233 more ground software roles

Cloud, DevOps and infrastructure

263 open

The platforms, networks and pipelines a space company's software runs on.

Show 253 more infrastructure roles

Web, backend and applications

156 open

Customer products, internal tools and the factory and business systems a space company runs on.

Show 146 more application roles

Software engineers

949 open

Software engineering roles across space companies.

Show 939 more software roles

Before you apply

Space hardware is built, tested and flown in person, so many roles name a factory, a test site, a launch site or a control room, and each listing states its location. US roles that touch export-controlled technology (ITAR or EAR) can ask that you be a U.S. person, and some ask for a security clearance. A real employer never charges you to apply, never interviews you only by chat app and never asks you to buy equipment.

Pay by specialty

Every specialty gets its typical band from its own open roles, computed by the same method as the rest of the site (the 25th percentile of what roles pay (the middle of each posted range, as a year's pay: an hourly rate counts at 2,080 hours, 40 a week for 52 weeks) to the 90th-percentile posted top). A specialty is listed once three or more distinct rates have been posted.

SpecialtyOpen rolesTypical payHighest rate
Flight and embedded software382$140k–$272k/yr$377k/yr
Ground, mission and test software243$143k–$272k/yr$340k/yr
Cloud, DevOps and infrastructure263$150k–$280k/yr$348k/yr
Web, backend and applications156$147k–$270k/yr$315k/yr
Software engineers949$137k–$270k/yr$381k/yr

What the roles ask for

Drawn from the requirement lines of 325 out of 1,993 open roles for software engineers, the same lines each role's pop-up quotes from its posting. Each role is counted once, at the lowest degree it will accept.

1

Ask for a PhD

13

Ask for a master's

211

Ask for at least a bachelor's

100

Name no degree

  • Name years of experience228
  • Require programming (Python, C++, MATLAB and similar)132
  • Name a security clearance89
  • Name u.S. person status (ITAR or EAR)26
  • Set a residency or work-authorization condition23
  • Ask for a certification4
  • Ask for a professional license2

Where a posting states years of experience, the median ask is 5 years.

Who hires software engineers in the space industry

EmployerOpen rolesPay stated
Muon Space logoMuon Space37$83.2k–$298k/yr
Array Labs logoArray Labs6$150k–$300k/yr
Anduril logoAnduril27$129k–$292k/yr
Hubble Network logoHubble Network1$153k–$250k/yr
Outpost logoOutpost1$275k–$325k/yr
Umbra logoUmbra8$135k–$235k/yr
Cowboy Space logoCowboy Space9$93.6k–$250k/yr
Astrolab logoAstrolab1$190k–$220k/yr
Amazon Leo logoAmazon Leo129$80.1k–$350k/yr
Portal Space Systems logoPortal Space Systems1$160k–$205k/yr
Johns Hopkins APL logoJohns Hopkins APL2$47k–$245k/yr
True Anomaly logoTrue Anomaly41$70k–$340k/yr
Turion Space logoTurion Space1$175k–$225k/yr
E-Space logoE-Space14$120k–$225k/yr
LeoLabs logoLeoLabs4$171k–$195k/yr
Stoke Space logoStoke Space8$58.2k–$347k/yr
Inversion Space logoInversion Space14$101k–$236k/yr
BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems logoBAE Systems Space & Mission Systems12$66k–$254k/yr
Kymeta logoKymeta1$140k–$190k/yr
K2 Space logoK2 Space23$62.4k–$240k/yr
Apex logoApex8$125k–$250k/yr
General Galactic logoGeneral Galactic2$140k–$250k/yr
Xona Space Systems logoXona Space Systems9$132k–$274k/yr
Loft Federal logoLoft Federal4$100k–$185k/yr
Quindar logoQuindar7$120k–$190k/yr
Varda Space Industries logoVarda Space Industries6$169k–$216k/yr
Loft Orbital logoLoft Orbital25$140k–$275k/yr
Viasat logoViasat54$43.5k–$265k/yr
Blue Origin logoBlue Origin141$55.3k–$381k/yr
Skylo logoSkylo2Not stated
Astra logoAstra2$140k–$240k/yr
Impulse Space logoImpulse Space17$66.6k–$300k/yr
Capella Space logoCapella Space1$146k–$191k/yr
KBR logoKBR18$100k–$214k/yr
Quantum Space logoQuantum Space4$100k–$200k/yr
Epsilon3 logoEpsilon31$120k–$180k/yr
Planet logoPlanet19$136k–$226k/yr
BlackSky logoBlackSky6$140k–$205k/yr
Slingshot Aerospace logoSlingshot Aerospace3$100k–$265k/yr
Sophia Space logoSophia Space1$125k–$191k/yr
Millennium Space Systems logoMillennium Space Systems3$128k–$280k/yr
CesiumAstro logoCesiumAstro31$113k–$225k/yr
Reflect Orbital logoReflect Orbital3$56.2k–$64.5k/yr
Voyager Technologies logoVoyager Technologies9$48.9k–$210k/yr
Spire Global logoSpire Global11$90k–$203k/yr
Northwood Space logoNorthwood Space8$120k–$224k/yr
GITAI logoGITAI1$58.2k–$83.2k/yr
Booz Allen Hamilton logoBooz Allen Hamilton11$69.3k–$225k/yr
Boeing logoBoeing27$91.8k–$286k/yr
Parsons logoParsons3$74.8k–$181k/yr
Sierra Space logoSierra Space14$60.9k–$248k/yr
Relativity Space logoRelativity Space22$102k–$308k/yr
Vast logoVast11$123k–$268k/yr
Firefly Aerospace logoFirefly Aerospace6Not stated
The Aerospace Corporation logoThe Aerospace Corporation35Not stated
Thales Alenia Space logoThales Alenia Space26Not stated
ICEYE logoICEYE25Not stated
OHB logoOHB22Not stated
ArianeGroup logoArianeGroup15Not stated
Airbus Defence and Space logoAirbus Defence and Space14Not stated
Axiom Space logoAxiom Space12Not stated
The Exploration Company logoThe Exploration Company12Not stated
German Aerospace Center (DLR) logoGerman Aerospace Center (DLR)10Not stated
Isar Aerospace logoIsar Aerospace9Not stated
Exotrail logoExotrail7Not stated
Star Catcher logoStar Catcher7Not stated
Constellr logoConstellr6Not stated
CNES (French space agency) logoCNES (French space agency)5Not stated
Eutelsat logoEutelsat5Not stated
MaiaSpace logoMaiaSpace5Not stated
Open Cosmos logoOpen Cosmos5Not stated
Astroscale logoAstroscale4Not stated
Elveo Mobile logoElveo Mobile4Not stated
European Space Agency (ESA) logoEuropean Space Agency (ESA)4Not stated
Kepler Communications logoKepler Communications4Not stated
Reflex Aerospace logoReflex Aerospace4Not stated
Telespazio logoTelespazio4Not stated
Foundational logoFoundational3Not stated
Leaf Space logoLeaf Space3Not stated
Telesat logoTelesat3Not stated
ClearSpace logoClearSpace2Not stated
Dawn Aerospace logoDawn Aerospace2Not stated
Satellogic logoSatellogic2Not stated
Venus Aerospace logoVenus Aerospace2Not stated
NewOrbit Space logoNewOrbit Space1Not stated
Rocket Factory Augsburg logoRocket Factory Augsburg1Not stated
Sidus Space logoSidus Space1Not stated
Spaceium logoSpaceium1Not stated
Synspective logoSynspective1Not stated
Starfish Space logoStarfish Space3$100k–$180k/yr
Katalyst Space Technologies logoKatalyst Space Technologies4$105k–$180k/yr
SES logoSES6$75k–$110k/yr
Intuitive Machines logoIntuitive Machines7Not stated
RTX logoRTX18$62.9k–$277k/yr
SpaceX logoSpaceX334$62.4k–$355k/yr
ispace logoispace10$101k–$189k/yr
Redwire logoRedwire8$93k–$190k/yr
Rendezvous Robotics logoRendezvous Robotics3$85k–$115k/yr
L3Harris logoL3Harris31$74.5k–$218k/yr
AST SpaceMobile logoAST SpaceMobile19Not stated
Lockheed Martin logoLockheed Martin208$41.9k–$381k/yr
Vantor logoVantor33$86k–$215k/yr
General Dynamics Mission Systems logoGeneral Dynamics Mission Systems2$138k–$155k/yr
Leidos logoLeidos5$108k–$278k/yr
Terran Orbital logoTerran Orbital2$125k–$190k/yr
AeroVironment (AV) logoAeroVironment (AV)3$101k–$224k/yr
United Launch Alliance logoUnited Launch Alliance16$48k–$275k/yr
Northrop Grumman logoNorthrop Grumman84$50.4k–$289k/yr
Virgin Galactic logoVirgin Galactic3$118k–$202k/yr
Iridium logoIridium4$64.5k–$165k/yr
Rocket Lab logoRocket Lab32$56.2k–$300k/yr
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) logoNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)4$127k–$222k/yr
CACI logoCACI17$58k–$290k/yr
Amentum logoAmentum5$70k–$85k/yr
Ursa Major logoUrsa Major4$110k–$224k/yr
Lunar Outpost logoLunar Outpost6$49.9k/yr
Teledyne logoTeledyne1Not stated
Moog logoMoog2$75k–$175k/yr
Astranis logoAstranis21$60.3k–$280k/yr
AstroForge logoAstroForge1$140k–$229k/yr
Benchmark Space Systems logoBenchmark Space Systems1$47.8k–$54.1k/yr

Sorted by the expected value of an application (acceptance odds times posted pay). A referral agreement, if an employer has one, can raise it in this order but never changes the salary it offers.

Software Engineer salary by employer

What each employer's own postings pay software engineers, by level and by site, with every role and its posted pay.

How each employer checks you

For every employer currently hiring software engineers: its process as its own hiring guide describes it, each line with its source. The complete steps sit on that employer's page. Sorted by the expected value of an application (acceptance odds times posted pay). A referral agreement, if an employer has one, can raise it in this order but never changes the salary it offers.

Amazon Leo logoAmazon Leo129 open
Assessment
Amazon's interview loop. How to apply
Interview
Interview
Blue Origin logoBlue Origin141 open
Assessment
No general test published. How to apply
Interview
None published
Booz Allen Hamilton logoBooz Allen Hamilton11 open
Assessment
Booz Allen's technical assessment and interviews. How to apply
Interview
Interview
Thales Alenia Space logoThales Alenia Space26 open
Assessment
Thales interviews. How to apply
Interview
Interview
Airbus Defence and Space logoAirbus Defence and Space14 open
Assessment
Airbus interviews and role tests. How to apply
Interview
Interview
European Space Agency (ESA) logoEuropean Space Agency (ESA)4 open
Assessment
ESA's pre-screening and panel interview. How to apply
Interview
Interview
Credentials
You complete a basic medical screening for the ESA Medical Officer and a basic background screening run by an external party; in a second stage ESA contacts your referees and verifies your diploma. Source
Lockheed Martin logoLockheed Martin208 open
Assessment
Lockheed Martin's interviews. How to apply
Interview
Interview
Northrop Grumman logoNorthrop Grumman84 open
Assessment
The recruiter screening and team interviews. How to apply
Interview
Interview
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) logoNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)4 open
Assessment
No general test published. How to apply
Interview
None published

Where these roles are posted

The US states with the most open roles for software engineers, and the roles posted for a single country. A place name leads to its own page, and a country's count lists the matching roles.

Students and recent graduates: 106 open space internships for software engineers.

In the US, by state

Space industry jobs by US state

In the US, by metro area

Space industry jobs by metro area

The public record, in every industry: 1,717,800 software developers work in the US (2025), projected to grow 10% by 2035, at a median $136k/yr (BLS, May 2025). Open space roles for software engineers post a median $169k/yr, 24.3% above it (pay research). Each state's page gives its own.

What our research measures about software & it work

Read from the open postings on 2026-10-31 by our space industry research, rebuilt every day. Every figure opens the row of the report it comes from.

What our research measures about flight software work

Read from the open postings on 2026-10-31 by our space industry research, rebuilt every day. Every figure opens the row of the report it comes from.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do software engineers earn in the space industry?

Going by the 1,295 distinct salaries currently posted for roles for software engineers (each put on a full-time year), the typical range is $142k–$271k/yr and the median is $169k/yr. The top posted figure is $381k/yr, at Lockheed Martin. 543 of the 1,993 open roles for software engineers state no pay, so check each listing.

Do I need aerospace experience?

Not always: many roles ask for strong software experience in the language and domain they name (C++ and embedded systems for flight software, cloud and web stacks for ground software) rather than space experience. Every posting spells out its exact requirements and work site, so read each one. Of the 325 open roles for software engineers whose requirements we read, 1 ask for a PhD, 13 a master's, 211 at least a bachelor's and 100 name no degree.

What does a software engineer do at a space company?

A software engineer at a space company writes either the software that runs on the vehicle (flight and embedded code that has to work the first time) or the software around it: mission control, telemetry and simulation, test automation, and the systems the factory and the business run on.

How do space companies hire software engineers?

Each employer runs its own hiring, and each listing says what it asks for: the degree or the hands-on experience, the location, and for export-controlled work in the US, often U.S. person status. Of the employers hiring software engineers now, European Space Agency (ESA) says it checks credentials such as degrees. The section on how each employer checks you quotes each guide with its source.

Are these jobs real?

Every role here is read from a space employer's own careers page or job board (Muon Space, Array Labs, Anduril and Hubble Network among them), and each employer's page here covers who they are and how they hire. A real employer never charges you to apply, never asks you to buy equipment and never interviews you only by chat app.

Which space companies pay software engineers the most?

Of the 29 employers whose postings for software engineers state enough pay for a figure, the highest medians are Muon Space ($218k/yr), Vast ($201k/yr) and Blue Origin ($198k/yr). A median is of what each employer's open roles post today, by the same formula for every employer.

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Space jobs for mission operations engineers

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Space jobs by profession

Every profession space companies hire, with live counts and pay.

Flight Software & GNC

Every open flight software role across space employers, with live pay.

Ground Software & IT

Every open software & it role across space employers, with live pay.