Lead Flight Software Engineer in Mundelein

Astra CoreX, Inc. (ACX) is seeking a Lead Flight Software Engineer to architect, develop, and own the onboard software stack for next- aerospace vehicles. You will work closely with Guidance, Navigation, and Controls (GN&C), avionics, and autonomy teams to design and implement real-time flight software responsible for mission sequencing, fault management, telemetry, and closed-loop control., n

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of flight software subsystems including mode management, fault detection/isolation/recovery (FDIR), command and telemetry handling, and health monitoring.

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• Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or another relevant field.

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• 5-10 years of experience designing, implementing, and testing embedded or flight software for aerospace, defense, or autonomous systems.

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• Strong experience with C and/or C++ for embedded, real-time systems; familiarity with Rust and Python for tools, test, or infrastructure.

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• Hands-on experience developing software for microcontrollers or embedded processors, including working with RTOSes, interrupts, and hardware interfaces (e.g., UART, CAN, Ethernet).

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• Demonstrated experience with software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing, including building and using testbeds and simulators for flight software validation.

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• Experience implementing fault management, mode logic, and safety-critical state machines in operational systems.

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• Strong understanding of real-time constraints, concurrency, and resource management (CPU, memory, and timing budgets) in embedded environments.

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• Experience with configuration management, version control, and CI/CD pipelines for embedded software.

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• U.S. with eligibility for government security clearance., n

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or another relevant field.

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• 10+ years of experience in flight software or safety-critical embedded systems for launch vehicles, spacecraft, UAVs, or advanced aerospace platforms.

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• Experience integrating advanced GN&C algorithms into flight software, including MIMO feedback, trajectory following, and mission sequencing.

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• Familiarity with aerospace software standards and processes (e.g., NASA/ESA standards, DO-178C, ECSS, or similar safety-critical frameworks).

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• Experience with telemetry systems, ground software interfaces, and operational concepts for flight missions.

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• Background in building and operating end-to-end mission software stacks, from embedded flight code to ground tools and monitoring systems.

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• Experience with formal verification, static analysis tools, or rigorous validation approaches for high-reliability software.

• Work with G&C and avionics to integrate guidance, navigation, and control algorithms into real-time, resource-constrained environments using RTOS-based frameworks.

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• Define and implement interfaces to sensors, actuators, and communication links (e.g., IMUs, RF links, propulsion, power systems) including low-level drivers and middleware.

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• Develop and maintain simulation and test infrastructure, including software-in-the-loop (SITL), hardware-in-the-loop (HITL), Monte Carlo analysis, and recorded flight data playback to validate flight software performance and robustness.

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• Own flight software reliability and safety: perform hazard analyses, define fault containment strategies, implement watchdogs, safe modes, and redundancy management.

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• Collaborate with vehicle engineering to define software requirements, architecture documents, ICDs, and verification plans for flight-critical functionality.

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• Lead code reviews, integration efforts, and debugging sessions on embedded targets with cross-functional teams (GN&C, avionics, payloads, ground software).

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• Support integration and flight test campaigns, including pre-flight readiness, real-time telemetry monitoring, anomaly investigation, and post-flight data analysis.

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• Mentor and guide junior flight software engineers, establish best practices for coding standards, testing, and configuration management for flight-critical systems.

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\n, * Prior leadership experience guiding teams of embedded/flight software engineers on complex, multi-vehicle or multi-mission programs.

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Salary Range

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• $150k-$220k

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ACX offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes group Medical, Dental, Life, and Short and Long-Term coverage from day one. We also offer a generous 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a Company match. Every role at ACX is bonus eligible.

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ACX is committed to full compliance with applicable anti-discrimination laws. We are an equal opportunity employer and value at our company. We strive to create an inclusive work environment and will not discriminate on the basis of , , , , , , , marital status, veteran status, or status.