Xona Space Systems is hiring: Flight Software Engineer in Burlingame

Description Xona is building the next generation of satellite navigation a high-performance, resilient alternative to GPS powered by a commercial constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. We are on a mission to unlock a new era of autonomy, advanced mobility, and infrastructure resilience by delivering precise, secure, and robust positioning services to the world. Description Xona is building the next generation of satellite navigation a high-performance, resilient alternative to GPS powered by a commercial constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. We are on a mission to unlock a new era of autonomy, advanced mobility, and infrastructure resilience by delivering precise, secure, and robust positioning services to the world. Were not here to incrementally improve GNSS. Were here to redefine it from the ground up . Were looking for a Flight Software Engineer to develop, integrate, and optimize the onboard software for our satellites. You will drive the creation of flight software components and related integration procedures. You'll work closely with hardware engineering, integration & test, and operations team members to establish robust software methodologies and practices that will scale effectively as our constellation grows. This is a hands-on role that will influence many facets of our satellite software systems, including: software architecture, embedded platforms, hardware/software interface testing, fault management, performance optimization, digital tooling, technical documentation, and operational reliability. What You'll Do Develop, integrate, and optimize embedded flight software for satellite subsystems, writing production-quality code daily. Execute comprehensive full-system test campaigns, emphasizing detailed hardware/software interface validation. Collaborate closely with Integration & Test, hardware engineering, and operations teams to implement robust software interfaces, manage fault conditions, and develop effective mitigation strategies. Continuously improve software components and integration procedures, contributing to long-term reliability and scalability. Translate complex operational workflows into clear technical documentation, ensuring maintainability and knowledge transfer. Optimize software performance, stability, and resilience, enhancing spacecraft operational reliability. You'll Be a Good Fit If You love writing clean, robust, and maintainable code for embedded systems and thrive when diving deeply into complex software-hardware integrations. You have a passion for building reliable software and solving intricate technical challenges. You have a high attention to detail, methodical, and comfortable debugging code in real-time embedded environments. You enjoy collaborating across engineering disciplines, proactively identifying risks, and solving challenging technical problems. Requirements Strong proficiency in writing embedded software in C/C++ on real-time operating systems (RTOS) or space-focused software frameworks (e.g., cFS, F', TASTE). Solid understanding of software testing methodologies and best practices. Demonstrated experience with full-system testing and software/hardware interface validation. Proven experience implementing communication protocols and interfaces (e.g., CAN, RS-422/485, Ethernet). Excellent analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills. Strong written and verbal communication abilities and collaborative teamwork skills. To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a?U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual?as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)? Desired Qualifications Experience with on-orbit operations, fault detection, isolation & recovery (FDIR), or embedded autonomy. Prior experience developing embedded systems software in aerospace or similarly rigorous industries. Hands-on experience working with satellite flight hardware or spacecraft testbeds. Salary Description Range for base salary: $120,000 -$170,000 Seniority level Seniority level Entry level Employment type Employment type Full-time Job function Job function Engineering and Information Technology Industries Space Research and Technology Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Xona Space Systems by 2x San Francisco, CA $160,000 - $180,000 2 days ago Software Engineer, AI Intern (Fall 2025) San Francisco Bay Area $57 - $61 2 weeks ago San Francisco, CA $40,000 - $70,000 2 weeks ago San Francisco, CA $130,000 - $238,000 2 weeks ago San Francisco, CA $145,000 - $230,000 2 weeks ago Software Engineer, Frontend (All Levels) San Francisco, CA $150,000 - $220,000 2 weeks ago San Francisco, CA $105,600 - $198,000 4 days ago Full Stack Software Engineer - Post-training Palo Alto, CA $96,000 - $200,000 2 weeks ago Sunnyvale, CA $117,000 - $234,000 2 weeks ago San Francisco, CA $120,000 - $140,000 3 days ago Software Engineer(s) - New Grad (Fall 2025 Graduation) Were unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI. #J-18808-Ljbffr