Approach Venture
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Approach Venture | Advancing Frontier Tech with Top Talent
Founding Flight Software Engineer – Build the Software Stack for a Reusable Satellite Platform! Opportunity Summary An early-stage, stealth-mode space startup headquartered in Denver is developing a breakthrough reusable satellite architecture aimed at both national security and commercial markets. With venture backing, a strong runway, and a leadership team drawn from the top ranks of aerospace and startup engineering, we’re laying the foundation for the next phase of in-orbit and reentry innovation. We’re hiring our first dedicated Flight Software Engineer, a technical leader who will design, implement, and own the core software infrastructure that controls our spacecraft. This is a unique 0-to-1 opportunity to define how the system operates, scale future software development, and be part of a mission-driven team tackling hard aerospace problems with speed and precision. About Us We’re a stealth startup building reusable spacecraft designed for rapid turnaround and high-performance reentry. Our platform supports a range of use cases from national defense to commercial deployment and is engineered for resilience, modularity, and reusability. The team includes engineers and operators from top space startups and tier-1 aerospace programs. We move fast, operate lean, and value first-principles thinking over legacy constraints. Job Duties Architect and build the entire flight software system, from bootloader to mission operations Design low-level embedded software for vehicle command, telemetry, fault detection, and autonomous operation Collaborate directly with GNC, avionics, propulsion, and ground systems engineers to define interfaces and control logic Establish software infrastructure for testing, including hardware-in-the-loop simulations and test harnesses Own system-level fault management, redundancy strategies, and flight safety logic Support flight readiness, post-flight analysis, and iterative improvements across missions Build internal tools and documentation to support future hires and scale the codebase over time Lead early technical decisions that will shape the trajectory of the platform and company Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Aerospace, or a related technical field 7+ years of experience developing embedded or flight-critical software Strong command of C and C++ for real-time, bare-metal, RTOS, or embedded Linux systems Experience building from scratch or contributing to early-stage software stacks Ability to break down ambiguous problems into testable, reliable code with minimal supervision Demonstrated track record of ownership, initiative, and interdisciplinary collaboration Comfort working in fast-moving environments with high agency and minimal bureaucracy Preferred Experience Prior involvement in building embedded systems for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or autonomous vehicles Familiarity with flight certification processes, fault-tolerant software, and hardware interface protocols Understanding of avionics, GNC loops, and real-time telemetry processing Experience writing integration and validation frameworks for embedded systems Background in satellite bus systems, capsule reentry, or reusable launch vehicle software Solid fundamentals in operating systems, microcontroller architecture, and low-level debugging Exposure to in-flight operational environments or flight software deployment Security Clearance Must be able to obtain US Secret clearance. Why Join Us Founding-level role with the opportunity to build from the ground up Work on a high-impact space platform with real defense and commercial relevance Small team, big mission—your contributions matter from day one Clear path to grow into engineering leadership as the company scales Hands-on access to hardware, avionics, and flight test environments Equity and early-stage ownership Relocation support available if needed Seniority level
Seniority level Mid-Senior level Employment type
Employment type Full-time Job function
Industries Software Development, Defense and Space Manufacturing, and Space Research and Technology Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Approach Venture by 2x Inferred from the description for this job
Medical insurance Vision insurance Get notified about new Lead Software Engineer jobs in
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Founding Flight Software Engineer – Build the Software Stack for a Reusable Satellite Platform! Opportunity Summary An early-stage, stealth-mode space startup headquartered in Denver is developing a breakthrough reusable satellite architecture aimed at both national security and commercial markets. With venture backing, a strong runway, and a leadership team drawn from the top ranks of aerospace and startup engineering, we’re laying the foundation for the next phase of in-orbit and reentry innovation. We’re hiring our first dedicated Flight Software Engineer, a technical leader who will design, implement, and own the core software infrastructure that controls our spacecraft. This is a unique 0-to-1 opportunity to define how the system operates, scale future software development, and be part of a mission-driven team tackling hard aerospace problems with speed and precision. About Us We’re a stealth startup building reusable spacecraft designed for rapid turnaround and high-performance reentry. Our platform supports a range of use cases from national defense to commercial deployment and is engineered for resilience, modularity, and reusability. The team includes engineers and operators from top space startups and tier-1 aerospace programs. We move fast, operate lean, and value first-principles thinking over legacy constraints. Job Duties Architect and build the entire flight software system, from bootloader to mission operations Design low-level embedded software for vehicle command, telemetry, fault detection, and autonomous operation Collaborate directly with GNC, avionics, propulsion, and ground systems engineers to define interfaces and control logic Establish software infrastructure for testing, including hardware-in-the-loop simulations and test harnesses Own system-level fault management, redundancy strategies, and flight safety logic Support flight readiness, post-flight analysis, and iterative improvements across missions Build internal tools and documentation to support future hires and scale the codebase over time Lead early technical decisions that will shape the trajectory of the platform and company Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Aerospace, or a related technical field 7+ years of experience developing embedded or flight-critical software Strong command of C and C++ for real-time, bare-metal, RTOS, or embedded Linux systems Experience building from scratch or contributing to early-stage software stacks Ability to break down ambiguous problems into testable, reliable code with minimal supervision Demonstrated track record of ownership, initiative, and interdisciplinary collaboration Comfort working in fast-moving environments with high agency and minimal bureaucracy Preferred Experience Prior involvement in building embedded systems for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or autonomous vehicles Familiarity with flight certification processes, fault-tolerant software, and hardware interface protocols Understanding of avionics, GNC loops, and real-time telemetry processing Experience writing integration and validation frameworks for embedded systems Background in satellite bus systems, capsule reentry, or reusable launch vehicle software Solid fundamentals in operating systems, microcontroller architecture, and low-level debugging Exposure to in-flight operational environments or flight software deployment Security Clearance Must be able to obtain US Secret clearance. Why Join Us Founding-level role with the opportunity to build from the ground up Work on a high-impact space platform with real defense and commercial relevance Small team, big mission—your contributions matter from day one Clear path to grow into engineering leadership as the company scales Hands-on access to hardware, avionics, and flight test environments Equity and early-stage ownership Relocation support available if needed Seniority level
Seniority level Mid-Senior level Employment type
Employment type Full-time Job function
Industries Software Development, Defense and Space Manufacturing, and Space Research and Technology Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Approach Venture by 2x Inferred from the description for this job
Medical insurance Vision insurance Get notified about new Lead Software Engineer jobs in
Denver, CO . Senior Software Engineer (Core Product - C#) - TrainingPeaks
Senior Software Engineer (Core Product - C#) - TrainingPeaks
Denver, CO $19,100.00-$175,400.00 3 days ago Denver, CO $215,000.00-$295,000.00 1 day ago Boulder, CO $90,000.00-$185,000.00 1 week ago Sr. Software Engineer - Payments Support
Denver, CO $138,400.00-$173,000.00 2 weeks ago Englewood, CO $96,250.00-$137,500.00 2 days ago Senior Avionics Software Engineer - New Shepard
Senior IPT Lead / Sr Software Engineer Manager (Onsite)
Aurora, CO $124,000.00-$250,000.00 2 weeks ago Software Engineering Technical Leader - C++
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Aurora, CO $126,100.00-$227,950.00 15 hours ago Principal Software Engineer - 25k Sign on Bonus
Aurora, CO $148,850.00-$269,075.00 1 month ago Denver, CO $136,000.00-$180,000.00 4 months ago Denver, CO $150,000.00-$500,000.00 4 days ago We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr