Flight Software Engineer

About the role

This position develops and maintains the software that directly governs aircraft behavior and responds to guidance from senior engineers in high-speed flight contexts. The work you perform will support government and commercial missions by shaping the full software stack alongside peers in a fast-paced startup environment. You will own outcomes end to end, ensuring that general software craftsmanship produces clean, testable, and maintainable code that reduces defects in flight operations. The role emphasizes clear communication as much as technical skill, with engineers spending part of every week on planning, code review, and debugging rather than just writing new code. You will validate flight system behavior through outcomes from simulation and infrastructure tooling that capture real-world conditions. The ability to explain technical decisions in plain words separates strong engineers from the rest in this field. You will work within a team structure where engineers review each other's work and ship in small batches using agile practices such as sprints and daily standups.

Key facts

What you'll do

Reliable flight software governs aircraft behavior and responds to guidance from senior engineers to ensure safe and predictable operation in demanding conditions. Outcomes from simulation and infrastructure tooling validate flight system behavior through captured real-world conditions, allowing for rigorous verification before flight. General software craftsmanship produces clean, testable, and maintainable code, with unit and integration tests that reduce defects in flight operations and support long-term reliability. You will implement features that meet strict safety and performance standards while adhering to established coding standards and documentation practices. The role requires debugging complex issues in flight software, using systematic analysis to identify root causes and validate fixes under simulated conditions. Performance optimization will be a core responsibility, focusing on reducing latency and resource usage in safety-critical components to meet real-time constraints. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, including mechanical, electrical, and propulsion engineers, to align software behavior with system-level requirements. Version control will be used extensively for safety-critical code, enabling traceability, peer review, and reliable integration of changes across the codebase. You will participate in the full development lifecycle, from initial design and implementation through testing, deployment, and continuous improvement in production environments.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Math, or a Science discipline is the baseline qualification for this role and must be held. Professional software development experience, including internships and research experience spanning 0-3 years, builds the capacity to contribute effectively on complex aerospace projects. Experience in C++, Rust, or other systems programming languages targets performance-sensitive contexts where direct hardware interaction and deterministic behavior are required. Proven skills in debugging, performance optimization, and unit testing uphold code quality in safety-critical settings and reduce the risk of field failures. The capacity to thrive in a fast-paced environment supports rapid adaptation to evolving requirements and technical constraints imposed by flight dynamics and regulatory standards. You must be able to work primarily in-office five days a week to sustain collaboration and culture within the engineering team. Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for explaining technical decisions in plain words during code reviews and design discussions. The ability to learn and apply new tools, frameworks, and domain-specific knowledge quickly is critical for success in this role.

Nice to have

Only items preferred by the SOURCE are listed here, and no additional preferences are added.

Practical notes

Work is primarily in-office five days a week to sustain collaboration and culture.

Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate.

Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

Flight software engineers work close to hardware and real-time constraints, so precision and testing matter. Toolchains often include C++, Rust, simulation frameworks, and version control for safety-critical code. Cross-functional collaboration with mechanical, electrical, and propulsion teams is common in aerospace product development.

Questions to ask

Good questions to ask the employer in the interview include what does success look like in the first six months, how is the team structured, what is the current biggest challenge, and how are decisions made. Asking about growth paths and the review process is also well received. Employers expect questions, and good ones show preparation.

Career growth

Engineering careers usually progress from individual contributor to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some engineers move into management and lead teams of five to twenty people. Others stay on the technical track. Growth follows demonstrated impact, not tenure alone. A typical engineering ladder has clear levels with defined expectations for scope, quality, and mentorship. Moving up usually requires owning outcomes end to end rather than completing assigned tickets.

About the company

Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable.