Flight Software Engineer
Job Description
About Apolink:
Apolink is building the world's most interoperable satellite relay network in low Earth orbit. Our hybrid communication architecture combines RF and optical inter-satellite links to enable real-time, continuous connectivity for satellite operators across industries.
As a Flight Software Engineer at Apolink, you will be at the forefront of developing cutting-edge satellite technology. You'll own the development of the embedded and flight software stack that powers our relay spacecraft platforms, working on everything from low-level device drivers to autonomous fault recovery systems.
Your work will be crucial in designing and implementing the digital nervous system that makes our satellites reliable and interoperable. You'll have hands-on experience with avionics hardware, vendor SDKs, and payload systems as we prepare for our first mission to orbit in 2026 and build the foundation for a scalable constellation.
This role offers a unique opportunity to:
- Work with cutting-edge space technology and contribute to the future of satellite communications
- Design and implement mission-critical software systems for spacecraft operation
- Collaborate with a talented team of engineers across multiple disciplines
- Be part of a well-funded startup backed by Y Combinator
- Help shape the architecture of a next-generation satellite network
The ideal candidate will bring strong embedded systems expertise, experience with real-time operating systems, and a passion for space technology. You'll be joining a small but growing team where your contributions will have direct impact on the company's success.
We offer competitive compensation including equity, comprehensive benefits, and the chance to work on challenging technical problems in the rapidly growing space industry. Our location in Palo Alto puts you at the heart of Silicon Valley's aerospace innovation ecosystem.
If you're excited about building reliable software systems that operate in extreme environments and want to be part of revolutionizing satellite connectivity, we want to hear from you.
Responsibilities For Flight Software Engineer
- Architect and implement real-time flight software for satellite command and control
- Develop embedded software for avionics, SDRs, and optical/RF payload subsystems
- Build hardware abstraction layers, device drivers, and telemetry/telecommand interfaces
- Read and integrate vendor SDKs into the flight stack
- Implement autonomy features, including fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR)
- Build and maintain software-in-the-loop (SIL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) frameworks
- Design spacecraft-to-ground communication protocols with authentication and security
- Support hardware integration, functional testing, and on-orbit commissioning
- Collaborate with RF, GNC, and systems engineers for spacecraft operations
Requirements For Flight Software Engineer
- B.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of experience in embedded/flight software development (space, aerospace, or robotics)
- Proficiency in C/C++ for real-time and resource-constrained systems
- Experience with RTOS (FreeRTOS, VxWorks, RTEMS, or similar)
- Strong debugging skills with CI/CD, automated testing, and hardware bring-up
- Hands-on experience with embedded communication protocols (CAN, UART, I²C, SPI, RS-422, etc.)
- Familiarity with spacecraft operations, comm protocols, and avionics integration
- Comfortable working with vendor SDKs
- Must be US citizen or eligible for ITAR compliance
Benefits For Flight Software Engineer
- Equity participation
- Comprehensive health care
- 401(k) with company matching
- Flexible vacation
- Catered meal credits
- Professional development opportunities
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