Senior Satellite Flight Software Engineer

About Lynk

Lynk is the inventor of satellite direct to device or D2D technology, and has the world’s only commercial license from the FCC to operate a commercial D2D system. Today, Lynk allows mobile network operators' subscribers to send and receive text messages to and from space via standard unmodified, mobile devices. Lynk’s service has been tested and proven on all seven continents, has regulatory approvals in more than 30 countries and is currently being deployed commercially based on more than 40 MNO commercial service contracts covering approximately 50 countries.

Our technology will enable all 8 billion people on the planet to stay connected with the existing standard phone in their pocket. Everywhere. No matter what.

By joining Lynk, you will have the opportunity to directly touch the lives of billions. Your mission will be to bring mobile broadband to billions, pull hundreds of millions out of poverty, and save countless lives.
Job Summary

The Senior Satellite Flight Software Engineer at Lynk will be developing a variety of flight software applications for commanding and controlling our satellites. This includes developing our satellite command and data handling system software, in addition to supporting software for both its primary (payload) and secondary radio communications functions. The software will initially be tested on the satellite prototype in a lab environment “flatsat” that simulates orbit operations. The senior software engineer will also be responsible for implementing methods of data acquisition to ensure successful testing, verification, and validation.

We build spacecraft fast! So, the perfect candidate for this role will have significant previous experience designing, developing, and testing software on rapid timelines. We are looking for engineers that enjoy a challenge and have a track record of creative thinking to solve unconventional problems.

Attention... Experience with satellites is not a requirement for this position. If you are a systems-level software engineer with a passion for tackling new and exciting domains, do not hesitate to apply! We are always looking for talented individuals that can bring a new perspective.

Core Responsibilities
You will be responsible for design, development, and testing of all spacecraft flight software systems, including those that implement our spacecraft Command and Data Handling; Power; Communications; and Guidance, Navigation, and Control Systems. This includes:

• Leading the design of software solutions critical to the operation of our spacecraft, and developing these as Linux applications that run on satellite flight systems.

• Writing this software in Rust targeting an embedded Linux environment.

• Working in a small, agile team to manage and execute the software development lifecycle (requirements definition, design, implementation, test, and verification) for many individual projects.

• Mentoring junior and mid-level engineers, conducting design and code reviews, and helping set technical direction for the flight software team.

• Supporting Lynk’s Operations and Payload teams, who each bring unique demands on the satellite flight systems.

• Defining and implementing best practices for the flight software team, including usage of the Rust programming language.

• Creating embedded software to interact with satellite devices and electronics using CAN, I2C, SPI, RS-422, RS-485, and other protocols.

• Implementing inter-application coordination and communications using standard inter-process communication or IPC mechanisms available in Linux.

• Developing test software to support unit, integration, and system testing of all flight software functions.

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in Software, Electrical, Aerospace, or in a related engineering field.

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience.

• Demonstrated mastery of at least one systems programming language such as Rust, C, or C++.

• A willingness to work in the Rust programming language.

• Familiarity with Linux, operating system principals, and network programming.

• Demonstrated experience with all phases of the software development life cycle.

• Experience developing software that interacts with hardware devices.

• Experience with inter-process communication and IPC mechanisms.

• Experience with Git source control and an understanding of CI/CD system fundamentals.

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience.

• Advanced knowledge of the Rust programming language.

• Familiarity with embedded Linux systems, including the Yocto/OpenEmbedded project.

• Experience developing and testing software for SmallSats / CubeSats.

• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop integration and testing.

• Experience with Protocol Buffers, ZeroMQ, gRPC, and Systemd

ITAR Requirements:

To comply with U.S. Government export control regulations (ITAR), applicants must be one of the following: (i) a U.S. citizen or national, (ii) a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) an asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158. Individuals who do not meet these criteria must be eligible to obtain the necessary authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. For more information, please refer to the ITAR guidelines.

Learn about ITAR here.

Job Location

On-site in Chantilly, VA