Flight Software Engineer (Communications)

Today, everything we send to space is constrained by what fits inside a rocket fairing. That's a fundamental bottleneck to building more capable spacecraft. Rendezvous Robotics is solving this problem with electromagnetic self-assembling tiles: modular spacecraft components that rendezvous, dock, and latch to assemble bigger and more powerful spacecraft than anything that can be folded to fit into a rocket.

We're a small team based in Golden, Colorado, executing on a clear path from flight demonstration to our first operational systems. Our work spans hardware, software, and systems engineering. We are looking for the best people in the world who want to build the next generation of advanced spacecraft.

Responsibilities & Ownership

• The communication and networking stack across our distributed system

• Publish/subscribe middleware and the message schemas that ride on it, including reliability and quality-of-service settings

• IP networking across a changing topology: routing, addressing, and time synchronization

• The bridge between the onboard transport and ground systems, including standard spacecraft data-link formats

• The configuration and protocol side of the network fabric between vehicles, working with the hardware engineers who own the silicon

• The software side of the RF links, where the stack meets the radio

Basic Qualifications

• Degree in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering, or equivalent experience

• [Senior level only] 5+ years of relevant experience

• Strong modern C++, plus working Python

• Networking fundamentals: IP, multicast, and routing, and the ability to debug a real network with tools like Wireshark

• Experience with a messaging or pub/sub middleware and with serialization or IDL-defined schemas

Preferred Qualifications

• DDS specifically (Fast-DDS, RTI Connext, or CycloneDDS) and QoS tuning

• Dynamic or mesh routing protocols (Babel, OLSR, OSPF) and IPv6

• Spacecraft communication standards such as CCSDS, or other telemetry and command protocols

• Time synchronization with NTP or PTP

• RF or software-defined-radio familiarity

• Networking on real-time or embedded Linux

Compensation and Benefits

Engineer: $95,000 - $140,000

Senior Engineer: $140,000 - $170,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. In addition to the base salary, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options. You will receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, short- and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Equal Opportunity

Rendezvous Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Rendezvous Robotics is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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