AST SpaceMobile and our global partners are building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network to be accessible by standard smartphones. Called SpaceMobile, this ultra-powerful network is being designed to provide connectivity at 4G/5G speeds everywhere on the planet – on land, at sea and in flight.

We are seeking a Flight Software Engineer to develop, troubleshoot and maintain our Flight Software. The candidate will be one of the engineers responsible for developing new Flight Software, as well as providing Flight Software support for the Assembly, Integration, Test, Launch and Commissioning of our satellites. This will require the candidate to have an in-depth knowledge of not only the Flight Software, but also the system as a whole. The candidate will be an integral member of the Flight Software Team, responsible for developing and maintaining all Embedded Flight Software for AST. All Embedded Software development is done in C++ and can also involve hardware interaction for debugging and board bring-up activities.

Key Responsibilities

Responsible for the design, development, and testing of new embedded software from initial concept to subsystem integration, through full system deployment.
Incorporate mission-specific microcontrollers into full systems capable of full spacecraft control.
Participate in design, code reviews and testing with the team.
Debug and troubleshoot embedded systems, including system bugs, hardware failures or combability issues.
Develop and test application-level software modules that utilize low-level peripheral drivers when applicable.
Document and communicate design decisions and progress.
Collaborate with other sub-system engineers to define and advance software specifications for development.

Technical Requirements

At least 5-7 years of professional experience working with Embedded Programming
Ideally with experience in development and support
Familiar working with a Real-Time Operating System (RTOS)
Proficient with C and C++
Comfortable with the C++ 11 (and beyond) standard library
Experience with multi-threaded environments
Consideration for concurrency and inter-process communication
Familiarity with various protocols such as:
Serial communication protocols (RS-232, RS-485, CAN, SPI, etc)
Debugging interfaces (SWD, JTAG)
Comfortable with development tools/technologies such as:
Oscilloscopes
Logic analyzers
Multimeters
Familiar with reading and analyzing circuit diagrams and schematics
Comfortable using version control software, preferably Git
Familiarity with the command-line and command-line tools
Experience developing software on a Windows PC

Qualifications

Familiar working with ARM microcontrollers
Familiar with FPGA programming
Familiar maintaining a large and complex codebase
Familiar with some scripting language or languages (Python, Ruby, Bash, etc)
Background in the Aerospace Sector
Familiar with Matlab/Simulink

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronics or Electrical Engineering preferred.

Experience

A minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in Embedded Software development.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with STM32 microcontrollers, including proficiency with IDEs; familiarity with 32-bit ARM microcontrollers/SoCs; FPGA programming knowledge; experience maintaining a large and complex codebase; scripting language proficiency (Python, Ruby, Bash, etc.); background in the Aerospace Sector; familiarity with Matlab/Simulink.

Soft Skills

Strong collaboration and cross-functional teamwork skills; excellent written and verbal communication for documenting design decisions and progress; meticulous attention to detail in software development and testing; ability to work effectively within a team on design and code reviews; proactive in sharing knowledge and coordinating with sub-system engineers.

Technology Stack

C, C++ (C++14 and beyond standard library); Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS); STM32 microcontrollers and ARM-based systems; serial communication protocols (RS-232, RS-485, CAN, SPI); debugging interfaces (SWD, JTAG); development tools including oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and multimeters; Git version control; Windows development environment; FPGA programming tools; Python/Ruby/Bash scripting; Matlab/Simulink.