Head, Flight Software

Job summary

Lead the development and strategy of the flight software stack for an orbital launch vehicle, from low-level firmware to flight computer applications. Build and mentor a high-performing engineering team while collaborating with Avionics and GNC teams to ensure flight-critical system reliability.

Job details

About the role Canada Rocket Company is building a sovereign launch capability for Canada. We're looking for a Head of Flight Software to build and lead the team responsible for every line of code that flies. This is a foundational leadership role: you'll own the full flight software stack, from low-level controller firmware to flight computer applications, and grow the team around it. You'll work at the intersection of software, avionics, and control systems, translating mission requirements into reliable, flight-proven code. If you want to shape the software architecture of an entire launch vehicle program from the ground up, this is the role. What you'll do * Define and execute the flight software strategy for Canada Rocket Company's orbital launch vehicle, spanning architecture, development, verification, and operations. * Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing flight software team, establishing hiring plans, engineering processes, and a culture of rigour and ownership. * Architect and develop embedded software across flight computers and low-level controllers, working across GPOS, RTOS, FPGA, and baremetal environments as the program demands. * Partner closely with the Avionics team on hardware-software integration, board bring-up, driver development, and interface definition for flight electronics. * Collaborate with the GNC team to implement guidance, navigation, and control algorithms in flight software, ensuring real-time performance, determinism, and fault tolerance. * Own the software lifecycle for flight-critical systems, including requirements management, configuration control, code review, testing (hardware-in-the-loop, software-in-the-loop), and anomaly resolution. * Establish and maintain software development standards appropriate for flight-critical and safety-critical applications. * Contribute hands-on to software development. Qualifications Required * 10+ years of experience developing embedded software for complex, real-time systems, with a meaningful portion in a technical leadership capacity. * Strong proficiency in C and/or C++ for embedded targets, with demonstrated experience across RTOS, GPOS, FPGA, and baremetal development environments. * Deep understanding of embedded systems fundamentals: hardware-software interfaces, memory management, real-time scheduling, communication protocols (CAN, SPI, I2C, Ethernet), and fault handling. * Proven ability to build and lead engineering teams, including hiring, mentoring, and establishing processes from an early stage. * Excellent collaboration skills, particularly in cross-disciplinary environments involving hardware, software, and systems engineering. Preferred * Direct experience with flight software for launch vehicles, spacecraft, or similarly high-consequence aerospace systems. * Familiarity with GNC algorithm implementation and the real-time performance constraints involved. * Experience with hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop test frameworks. * Exposure to software assurance practices for flight-critical systems (e.g., DO-178C, ECSS, or NASA standards). * Bachelor's or advanced degree in computer science, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related field.

What you’ll do

Lead the development and strategy of the flight software stack for an orbital launch vehicle, from low-level firmware to flight computer applications. Build and mentor a high-performing engineering team while collaborating with Avionics and GNC teams to ensure flight-critical system reliability.

Requirements

Requires over 10 years of experience in embedded software for real-time systems with strong proficiency in C/C++ and leadership experience. A degree in computer science, electrical, or aerospace engineering is preferred along with experience in aerospace software assurance standards.

Listed skills

• Control · Preferred
• Software · Preferred
• Collaboration · Preferred
• Leadership · Preferred
• Teams · Preferred
• management · Preferred
• Communication · Preferred
• Assurance · Preferred
• Development · Preferred
• Time · Preferred
• C++ · Preferred
• Configuration · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Embedded Software Development
• C
• C++
• RTOS
• FPGA
• Baremetal
• Hardware-Software Integration
• GNC Algorithms
• Flight Software Architecture
• Technical Leadership
• Real-time Scheduling
• Communication Protocols
• Fault Handling
• Hardware-in-the-loop Testing
• Software-in-the-loop Testing
• Requirements Management

Job areas

• Engineering
• Software
• Management & Leadership
• Technology
• Science & Research

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