Principal Software Engineer – Space Systems Location: Greater Denver, CO (on-site 3–5 days/week) Salary: $160k–$195k + bonus + benefits + relocation A fast-growing space-technology company is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead architecture and development of ground and flight software for lunar and deep-space missions. This is a high-impact role influencing technical direction across multiple mission programs. What You’ll Do • Lead architecture decisions and guide software best practices across the organization. • Develop flight software (cFS, embedded Linux), ground systems (Python, modern web frameworks), and cloud/embedded ML or autonomy systems. • Own full lifecycle delivery: requirements, development, testing, integration, and ops. • Provide technical proposals, estimates, and cross-team coordination. • Mentor and uplift junior engineers. What We’re Looking For • 15+ years in spacecraft, mission control, or complex aerospace software systems. • Expertise in C/C++ and Python. • Experience with embedded Linux, real-time/flight software, and preferably NASA cFS. • Knowledge of cloud services (AWS), containerization, version control, and Agile processes. • Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and operate within rigorous engineering standards. • U.S. Citizenship and eligibility for a Security Clearance; must meet export-control requirements. Benefits • Competitive compensation + signing bonus • Health insurance • 401(k) • Flexible time off • Quarterly incentives • Relocation support