About Lúnasa:
Lúnasa is a UK-based NewSpace company (acquired by Infinite Orbits) building advanced and autonomous systems and satellites for in-orbit satellite services. Our mission is to provide geostationary operators with all the in-orbit services they need, from the inspection of their assets to the extension of their lifespan and the management of the end-of-life phase.
The company has received multiple contracts from the UK Space Agency and ESA to build and deploy AI-based satellite rendezvous proximity operations (RPO) technology and is set to demonstrate the innovation in space by 2027.
Location: London (on-site working)
Salary: Competitive.
Be able to obtain UK national security clearance
Job summary:
In this role, as a Flight Software Engineer, you will design, develop, and deploy flight-critical software systems that run on our satellites, from low-level embedded code to higher-level autonomy and mission logic. You will work across the full lifecycle, from early architecture and simulation through to hardware-in-the-loop testing, integration, and in-orbit operations.
This is a high-ownership, hands-on role where your work will directly fly in space. You will be expected to make key technical decisions, operate across system boundaries, and help shape the software backbone of Lúnasa’s spacecraft platforms. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments, is comfortable with ambiguity, and is driven by building reliable, real-world systems
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, develop, and maintain flight software for spacecraft systems
- Own the software stack from low-level embedded systems to mission-level logic
- Develop and integrate software for key subsystems (ADCS, GNC, payloads, communications, etc.)
- Implement robust fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR) strategies
- Work closely with hardware and systems teams to ensure tight hardware-software integration
- Support simulation environments, including software-in-the-loop (SITL) and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing
- Contribute to system architecture, interface definitions, and mission design
- Support in-orbit operations, including debugging, updates, and performance monitoring
Essential Skills:
- Strong experience in embedded software development, ideally in aerospace or other high-reliability domains
- Proficiency in C/C++ (or similar low-level languages used in embedded systems)
- Experience working with real-time systems and/or RTOS (e.g. FreeRTOS, RTEMS, Zephyr, or similar)
- Solid understanding of software architecture for constrained systems (memory, power, timing)
- Experience with hardware interfaces (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN, etc.)
- Familiarity with Linux-based systems and hybrid architectures (bare-metal + higher-level compute)
- Experience with simulation, testing, and validation frameworks
- Understanding of spacecraft subsystems (ADCS, GNC, EPS, communications)
- Experience with version control and CI/CD pipelines (e.g. Git)
Personal Skills:
- Should not yield under stress and should produce results during difficult situations.
- Should enjoy problem-solving and product results within a given schedule and budget.
- Should be capable of working independently and in a team environment as part of a fast-paced and dynamic technical environment.
- Should be solution-oriented and should display a flexible attitude in the face of changing conditions.
Education:
Relevant degree in Space Engineering, Physics, Maths, or related disciplines.
