Jobs › Companies › BlackSky › Staff Engineer, Flight Software

About this Staff Engineer, Flight Software role at BlackSky

BlackSky · Hybrid · Seattle, WA

Staff Engineer, Flight Software 

About Us:

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

Join the Satellite Embedded Software Group (ESG) as a Staff Flight Software Engineer. This is a hands-on individual contributor role that reports to the Senior Manager of Flight Software. You’ll be responsible for software design, development and technical leadership primarily for the satellite imaging payload and ADCS subsystems. This role will also contribute to software requirements and test plan support. As you grow with the team, you’ll have opportunities to work on other flight software subsystems as well as mentorship.

As a staff member of the ESG team, you’ll make a large business impact across multiple critical programs from design to execution. You’ll collaborate across our embedded systems group and work closely with other cross-functional and program team members, including Satellite Operations and Mission Management. 

The preferred location is Tukwila, WA with the ability to work in the Tukwila office 1-2 days a week but we may be open to strong remote candidates.

Responsibilities:

  • Provide subject matter expertise for ADCS and imaging payload subsystem software design and development.
  • Drive work to timely completion using task management tools like Jira in an Agile-like environment; participate and lead in status and standup meetings, sprint planning, tasking, etc.
  • Collaborate with other ESG software team members and other cross-functional engineers from multiple disciplines to deliver mission-critical software features and bugfixes that are on-time and defect free.
  • Ensure that adequate documentation, test, inspection, and analysis is delivered and performed to verify compliance with requirements and other goals.
  • Assist with Systems Engineering with requirements development and management.
  • Execute and provide feedback for flight software design, development, unit tests and releases processes.
  • Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering or equivalent experience
  • At least 10 years of experience delivering and maintaining commercial/embedded1
    software in a production environment.
  • Expertise in engineering clean and maintainable C/C++ and Python code.
  • Expertise in embedded systems, ideally in Embedded Linux including related build systems (Buildroot, Yocto, etc.).
  • Proven experience leading cross-functional teams to deliver products on time and on budget.
  • Outstanding root cause analysis and problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to work across teams, skill sets, communication in a diverse environment.
  • Must be able to work with minimal supervision.
  • Due to program requirements, this role requires US-born citizenship. 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree (masters or PhD) in a relevant field of study.
  • Experience in board bring-up for embedded linux platforms.
  • Familiarity with hardware interfaces (GPIO, I2C, SPI, CAN, USART, PHY, SpaceWire, Cameralink, RS-422), or high-speed interfaces (10G Ethernet, DMA, PCIe).
  • Experience with Real Time Operating Systems, including FreeRTOS.
  • Familiarity with u-boot, or other boot loaders.
  • Space Industry Experience, and familiarity with satellite components.
  • Experience working on embedded software relevant to ADCS/GNC.

Life at BlackSky for full-time benefits-eligible employees includes:

  • Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
    • BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
  • 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
  • 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Employee Stock Purchase Program
  • Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
  • Employer matching donations
  • Professional development
  • Mac or PC? Your choice!
  • Awesome swag

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $155,000-180,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.

BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

EEO/ Pay Transparency Statements: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf

Ready to apply to BlackSky?
Apply to BlackSky

How this Staff Engineer salary compares

This role pays $167,500/yr — below the typical range for Staff Engineer roles.

$170,250 median $282,750 $445,000

Typical range $195,000–$402,500/yr, from 131 comparable Staff Engineer listings on JobsRadar (pay annualized to USD). See Staff Engineer salary insights →

Similar jobs

Zoox
Senior/Staff Software Engineer, ML Performance Optimization
Zoox
⚡ Apply early Foster City, CA Onsite
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 1h ago
Gusto, Inc.
Staff Software Engineer, Benefit Renewals
Gusto, Inc.
⚡ Apply early Denver, CO Hybrid $197,000–$247,000
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 5h ago
Zoox
Senior/Staff Software Engineer, ML Training Performance
Zoox
⚡ Apply early Foster City, CA Onsite
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 8h ago
DO
Staff Software Engineer, AI Gateway
Docker
⚡ Apply early San Francisco, CA or Seattle,... · location restricted
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 9h ago
Pinterest
Staff Machine Learning Engineer, Ads Conversion Core Modeling
Pinterest
⚡ Apply early San Francisco, CA, US; Palo Al... Onsite $222,716–$389,753
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 9h ago
Anthropic
Staff+ Software Engineer, Platform Acceleration
Anthropic
⚡ Apply early San Francisco, CA | New York C... Onsite $405,000–$485,000
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 10h ago
Robots and Pencils
Staff Platform Engineer
Robots and Pencils
⚡ Apply early Seattle, WA Onsite $126,000–$126,000
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 15h ago
DO
Staff Software Engineer, AI Developer Tools
Docker
⚡ Apply early San Francisco, CA · location restricted
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 2d ago
DoorDash USA
Staff Security Engineer, Security Enablement
DoorDash USA
⚡ Apply early United States - Remote · location restricted $193,800–$285,000
● New 👁 Seen ✓ Applied 2d ago

Sign up for suggestions tailored to the jobs you open and the searches you save.

More jobs at BlackSky

See all jobs at BlackSky →

Apply now
🤖

Whoa — hold up

JobsRadar was built for real people having a rough time in their job search — not for automated requests. You're clicking way too fast and you're now temporarily blocked.

Come back later. If you're genuinely job hunting, we've got your back — just act like a human.

Catch your next role the second it’s posted.

Create a free account and we’ll watch the boards for you — the instant a job matches your search, it lands in your inbox or Telegram. No digging, no refreshing.

Create free account

Free forever · takes 30 seconds · already have one?

Get an edge on your job hunt.

Join our Telegram channel for the stuff that helps you land the role — salary benchmarks, the weekly market pulse, and new-feature drops. No spam, just signal.

Join the channel — it's free