Flight Software Engineering Manager, Capella Space
$140.2-175.2k
More information about location
Office located in Louisville, CO
Earth observation satellites & intelligence
Open for applications
Earth observation satellites & intelligence
201-500 employees
Open for applications
$140.2-175.2k
More information about location
Office located in Louisville, CO
201-500 employees
Company mission
To enable a richer understanding of our planet through the power of SAR technology.
Role
Who you are
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field (advanced degree preferred)
- Experience managing or leading software engineering teams, particularly within embedded systems or aerospace domains
- Strong foundation in real-time embedded systems, including experience with bare-metal or RTOS environments
- Proficiency in C and C++ (C++ experience highly preferred); experience with scripting languages such as Python or shell scripting
- Familiarity with embedded Linux, Linux kernel modules, and development tools
- Experience with microcontrollers and SoCs (e.g., Xilinx Zynq) and hardware/software integration
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to lead collaboratively and support cross-functional alignment
- Working knowledge of modern software development practices including Git, CI/CD, and automated testing
- Hands-on experience with lab equipment and debugging hardware is a plus
- To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable
What the job involves
- As the Manager of Flight Software at Capella, you will lead a team of engineers responsible for developing and maintaining the software that runs Capella’s satellite fleet in space
- You will oversee a dedicated segment of the existing flight software team, supporting mission-critical software development and contributing directly to the success of Capella's on-orbit operations
- This role offers the opportunity to influence technical direction, grow and mentor engineering talent, and drive high standards of execution in a fast-paced and collaborative environment
- You’ll work alongside engineers and stakeholders across electrical, FPGA, systems, and ground software teams to deliver robust and reliable spacecraft software
- Lead a team of flight software engineers responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining embedded software for satellite systems
- Collaborate with peers and cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration between hardware and software components
- Establish and uphold engineering best practices, including code reviews, automated testing, documentation, and design reviews
- Mentor engineers through technical challenges, performance feedback, and career development
- Support architectural discussions, software planning, and trade studies within the team’s scope of responsibility
- Drive consistent and timely execution of project milestones and deliverables
- Facilitate strong communication across engineering disciplines and ensure software solutions meet mission and system-level requirements
- Contribute to hiring, onboarding, and team growth efforts as Capella scales
Our take
Earth observation, in the form of satellite imagery, is in high demand. With climate change, supply chain, and defense operations all requiring high-quality observation data, the race is on to provide the clearest, most timely images - and Capella Space is one private company leading the charge.
Capella Space commands a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation in low-earth orbit that clients can use to access real-time visibility of facts on the ground. As the first US company to do this, it's won a leading slate of customers that include the US National Reconnaissance Office, the US Air Force, Geospatial and RSI.
As the urgency of addressing global issues increases, the demand for Capella Space’s services is almost certain to rise. This puts the company in a great position, having already established itself as a key player in the market. In 2025, Capella Space was acquired by IonQ, which will be integrating Capella’s satellite infrastructure with its quantum technology to create a space-based QKD network.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
11% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 6 rounds)
Jan 2023
$60m
GROWTH EQUITY VC
Apr 2022
$97m
SERIES C
Total funding: $234m
Company benefits
- Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Parental leave program
- Flexible Paid Time Off policy
- Commuter and parking benefits
- Mental health resources
- Monthly phone stipend
- 401K Plan
- Dog-friendly work environment & pet insurance options
Company HQ
Mission District, San Francisco, CA
Leadership
Frank Backes
(CEO)President at IonQ as well as President, Founder and Director at Space ISAC. Formerly Senior Business Consultant at Modern Technology Solutions and SVP of Kratos Space Federal at Kratos Defense and Security Solutions.
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