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Flight Software Engineer

Terran Orbital Corporation

Terran Orbital Corporation

Software Engineering
Irvine, CA, USA
USD 120k-150k / year
Posted on Oct 4, 2025

Join a team where your impact reaches beyond the stars! At Terran Orbital, you’re not just part of the system – you’re a vital force propelling our mission forward. As trailblazers in satellite manufacturing and aerospace innovation, we shatter boundaries daily to deliver groundbreaking solutions that power our nation’s defense and commercial missions. We are a unique, fast growing, and trusted team dedicated to swiftly and efficiently designing, building, launching, and operating state of the art satellites for advanced mission constellations. If you’re driven by purpose, inspired by challenges, and ready to leave your mark on the universe, you’ll find a home and endless opportunities for growth here. Together, let’s redefine what is possible in orbit and beyond!

Summary

Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Flight Software Engineer to join our dynamic team. Reporting to the Flight Software Engineering Manager, the Flight Software Engineer will design, develop, and maintain the critical software systems that control and operate our satellites, ensuring reliable performance and mission success in the challenging environment of space.

We are open to an Associate Flight Software Engineer (Level I) or Flight Software Engineer (Level II) for this position.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

  • Develop software for unique payloads, including image processing, aero-braking, and propulsive lunar landing
  • Write comprehensive unit and regression tests in existing frameworks
  • Integrate and test software in simulation, flight replica, flight, and hardware-in-the-loop environments
  • Work with multiple engineering teams to establish software requirements and design
  • Work with various engineering teams to commission newly launched satellites

Qualifications and Skills

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or equivalent field
  • 0-2 years of experience developing C++ applications for embedded, high-performance, or critical systems (Level I)
  • 2+ years of experience developing C++ applications for embedded, high-performance, or critical systems (Level II)
  • Highly motivated, self-starting, and able to perform duties autonomously without supervision
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • U.S. Citizenship with ability to obtain and maintain DoD security clearance

Additional Differentiators

  • Hands-on experience using A.R.M. and Texas Instruments platforms for embedded systems
  • Experience with Linux and GNU tools such as make, G.C.C., and debuggers such as G.D.B.
  • Experience with scripting languages such as bash and Python
  • Experience within the aerospace industry

Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case and may vary based on the job-related qualification, knowledge, skills, education, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer 100% covered medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, Flexible Time Off (FTO), covered life insurance, maternity and paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referrals, and lots of swag!

Salary Range
$120,000$150,000 USD

Benefits

  • 100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
  • 401(k) Match
  • Flexible Time Off (FTO)
  • Education Reimbursement
  • Competitive Paid Parental Leave

About Terran Orbital

Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers. Learn more at www.terranorbital.com

Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit or stand for long durations of time, in addition to bending, reaching, and walking. This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. This position is generally sedentary, with substantial computer usage.

Work Environment

The job operates in a professional office environment but in a manufacturing company. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners.

Disclaimers

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant 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. In addition, please note that this position may require a current United States National Security clearance or eligibility for such a clearance.

Terran Orbital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at hr@terranorbital.com.

Terran Orbital does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with Terran Orbital, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) must be executed and confirmed prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate. Without a signed MSA, Terran Orbital shall not be responsible to any individual or entity for any payment relating to any form of fee or compensation.

And, in the event that a resume or candidate is submitted by a recruiter, an employment agency, or a staffing firm without a fully executed MSA, Terran Orbital has the unrestricted right to pursue and hire any of those candidate(s) without any legal or financial responsibility to the recruiter, agency, and/or firm.