Come join us in shaping the future! Get in on the ground floor as an early member of our Software team as a Senior System Software Engineer developing a revolutionary satellite communications system. Connect the vision to the hardware, build it, test it and fly it.

AscendArc is a seed stage startup founded to revolutionize the satellite communications industry. We are looking for doers who want to work in a ground-breaking and fast-paced environment. Our success will depend on your energy, skill, and creativity.

Responsibilities

We're looking for a Senior System Software Engineer to lead the development of mission-critical systems across our satellite and ground operations. You'll work cross-functionally with systems engineers, RF engineers, and payload engineers to design, build, and deploy the software backbone of a geostationary satellite mission and its communication payload—from simulation to spaceflight.

• Architect and implement robust, high-performance software systems for satellite control, telemetry, data routing, and fault detection.
• Gather and translate customer requirements into executable product specifications.
• Develop and maintain flight software, ground control systems, and supporting tools for mission ops.
• Integrate with embedded systems, communication protocols (e.g., CCSDS, TCP/IP), and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test environments.
• Develop microcontroller code that receives commands and communicates with DACs, ADCs, etc. to achieve the functional requirements.
• Develop PC based software to control RF boards for wireless data communication demonstrations.
• Own the lifecycle of software from design and prototyping through to deployment and on-orbit support.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure seamless interaction between hardware, software, and mission control.
• Help shape technical culture and mentor junior engineers as we scale.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or Computer Science from an accredited college or university
• 5+ years of professional experience in software engineering (preferably in aerospace, embedded, or high-availability systems).
• Strong proficiency in C/C++, MATLAB, SIMULINK, or Python;
• Hands-on experience with real-time systems or embedded Linux.
• Familiarity with satellite communications, orbital mechanics, or ground station ops is highly desirable.
• A bias toward simplicity, reliability, and performance.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced startup environment

Hybrid Work

This position is based at our Beaverton office. We value the collaboration that comes from working together in person, while also supporting flexibility. Team members typically spend three days a week in the office and may work from home up to two days each week.

The base salary range for this position is $145,000-180,000. When determining an individual’s compensation, we consider several factors including skillset, experience, job scope, and current market data, so pay for this role may vary from the amounts listed.

AscendArc is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor or legally protected status.