Systems Engineer - Onboard Software (OBSW)

Our Mission 

At constellr, we're harnessing the power of space to solve one of Earth’s greatest challenges: climate resilience & security in a changing world. Our thermal satellite constellation delivers the most accurate land surface temperature data on the market, equipping commercial players, governments, defence agencies, and global institutions with the thermal intelligence they need to make strategic decisions– from national security and infrastructure to agriculture and climate resilience. 
 
As a fast-scaling company with offices in Brussels, Freiburg, Munich, Washington and Toulouse, our multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, and strategists is building the future of space-based Earth observation

Location: Remote or Hybrid - Germany
Team & Reporting Line: Mission and Space Segment - Reporting to Lead Satellite Systems

Your Role

You will join the constellr Mission & Space Segment team, playing a key role in shaping the onboard software that powers our satellite constellation across its full lifecycle — from early design through to in-orbit operations. 

This is a hands-on, high-impact role where you will help define how our satellites compute, behave, and evolve in space. Your work will directly influence the reliability, performance, and long-term success of constellr’s mission. 

You’ll collaborate closely across the business — working day-to-day with internal engineering teams, Product Assurance, Project Management, and Operations, as well as external suppliers. Together, you will help turn mission concepts into robust, flight-ready software systems. 

In addition to software development, you will contribute to system-level design decisions, support procurement and supplier technical alignment, and help ensure our onboard software is continuously validated, improved, and ready for operation in orbit. 

Key responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain onboard flight software in line with product assurance and safety standards  

• Work with stakeholders to define, refine, and manage software requirements across all onboard systems  

• Contribute to the design of onboard software architecture, including support for lab-based and in-orbit operational models  

• Help define and implement system-level fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) strategies within onboard software  

• Support planning and coordination of new software features and upgrades, working closely with external suppliers  

• Ensure strong configuration management practices across all onboard software components  

• Define verification strategies and testing approaches to ensure robust and reliable flight software  

• Take part in verification and validation activities for onboard systems and flight software  

• Ensure software — both internally developed and supplier-delivered — meets defined requirements and quality standards  

• Support anomaly resolution and non-conformance investigations related to onboard software  

• Help define and improve the in-orbit software update process for satellites in the constellr fleet  

• Contribute to integration and testing activities using Flatsat and other ground-based environments 

About You

Essential Experience:

We’re looking for someone with strong engineering fundamentals and real-world experience building software for complex, safety-critical or aerospace systems. 

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field  

• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and full software development lifecycles in complex technical environments  

• At least 4 years of experience in software development or software assurance, ideally in aerospace or other safety-critical domains  

• Experience with embedded software development, including familiarity with low-level hardware interfaces (e.g., CAN, Camera Link, or similar)  

• Exposure to FPGA-based systems and familiarity with relevant ECSS standards (especially Q-ST-60-02)  

• Solid grounding in software engineering principles, development methodologies, and lifecycle management tools  

• Experience with software testing frameworks, tools, and processes  

• Strong practical experience using Git and working within CI/CD pipelines  

• Proficiency in Python and C++ 

Nice to have:

These skills would further strengthen your profile, but are not essential: 

• Familiarity with ECSS standards and handbooks, including:  

  • ECSS-E-ST-40C  

  • ECSS-E-HB-40A  

  • ECSS-E-ST-20-04C  

  • ECSS-Q-ST-80C  

  • ECSS-Q-ST-60-03C  

  • ECSS-Q-ST-30-02C  

  • ECSS-E-ST-70-11C  

  • ECSS-E-ST-70-41C  

  • ECSS-E-HB-40-02A  

• Experience with space communication protocols such as CCSDS and CSP  

• Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills  

• High attention to detail and a strong quality mindset  

• Confidence in identifying inconsistencies and improving technical standards  

• Clear communication skills and ability to work across multidisciplinary teams 

Why Join constellr?

• Be part of an ambitious mission to launch the world’s first commercial thermal infrared constellation

• Play a defining role in scaling a company at the intersection of space, climate, and security

• Flexible work setup with remote and hybrid options

• Competitive compensation, including Virtual Share Option Plan (VSOP) for permanent employees

• Join a team committed to diversity, inclusion, scientific excellence, and real-world impact

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