Flight Software Systems Engineer for Space Missions

The Flight Software Systems Engineer will join ETH Zurich | Space, a newly created central pool of space‑engineering expertise that backs ETH Zurich‑led spacecraft projects and technology programmes. The role supports a varied portfolio that includes small satellites, scientific instruments, robotic systems and technology demonstrators, often working with tight resource limits and external spacecraft platforms. In day‑to‑day work you will own the development of flight software, acting as the main software liaison for systems engineering, avionics, payload and mission‑operations teams as well as external platform providers. You will turn mission concepts into spacecraft behaviours, define software architectures, allocate hardware‑software functions and produce specifications, interface control documents and verification plans. Development is carried out in C and C++ together with supporting Python scripts, covering device drivers, telemetry, telecommand, data handling and fault‑management. You will integrate the code with onboard computers, sensors, actuators and communication links, set up flat‑sat testbeds, run trade studies on processing, memory and timing, and maintain baselines, version control, build automation and continuous‑integration pipelines. Verification activities span unit, integration, software‑in‑the‑loop, processor‑in‑the‑loop, hardware‑in‑the‑loop and system‑level tests, while you also support risk management, anomaly investigation, assembly‑integration‑test (AIT) tasks, in‑flight updates and mission operations. Guidance of junior engineers and contribution to early‑stage studies and proposals are also part of the remit. The position requires a Master's degree in computer science, electrical or computer engineering, aerospace engineering, robotics or a closely related discipline, together with at least five years of professional experience in flight, embedded or other mission‑critical software. You must be proficient in C and C++ for constrained embedded targets and have worked with real‑time operating systems, embedded Linux or bare‑metal environments. A solid background in software systems engineering, including architecture definition, functional decomposition, hardware‑software allocation, requirements management and interface control, is essential. You need to be able to translate mission and spacecraft requirements into software specifications, operational concepts and verification strategies, and have hands‑on experience integrating flight software with avionics hardware, sensors, actuators and ground systems. Understanding of telemetry, telecommand, onboard data handling, timing, autonomy, fault management and spacecraft operations, as well as experience with debugging, automated testing and hardware‑in‑the‑loop setups, is required. Familiarity with configuration management, version control, release processes, technical baselines and requirements traceability, plus the ability to assess processing capacity, memory, timing, bandwidth and reliability margins, are also mandatory. Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills for multidisciplinary, multicultural teams, knowledge of radiation effects, redundancy, memory protection, watchdogs and FDIR, and excellent written and spoken English (German advantageous) complete the must‑have profile. Additional experience is valued but not compulsory. Prior work on CubeSats or small satellites, leading AIT activities, integrating payload software with external platforms, and familiarity with ECSS or NASA software standards are considered pluses. Knowledge of spacecraft communication protocols such as SpaceWire, CAN, UART, SPI, I²C, Ethernet and CCSDS, as well as experience with flight‑software frameworks like cFS, F Prime, RTEMS, FreeRTOS or Zephyr, enriches the candidate's profile. Background in autonomous systems, FPGA/firmware co‑design, EGSE, simulators, ground software, participation in international collaborations and awareness of flight‑software suppliers are also advantageous. The role offers the chance to work in a highly interdisciplinary environment at the heart of Switzerland's and Europe's space ecosystem, with opportunities for technical leadership and growth across multiple cutting‑edge missions. What the role asks for: - Master's degree in CS, EE, Computer, Aerospace, Robotics or related - Minimum 5 years flight/embedded mission‑critical software experience - Proficient in C and C++ for resource‑constrained targets - Experience with real‑time OS, embedded Linux or bare‑metal development - Skilled in software systems engineering and architecture definition - Ability to turn mission requirements into software specs and verification plans - Experience integrating flight software with avionics, sensors, actuators and ground links - Knowledge of telemetry, telecommand, data handling, timing and fault management - Hands‑on debugging, automated testing and hardware‑in‑the‑loop expertise - Familiar with configuration management, version control and release processes - Capable of assessing processing, memory, timing, bandwidth and reliability margins - Strong analytical, organizational and communication abilities in multidisciplinary teams - Understanding of radiation effects, redundancy, memory protection, watchdogs and FDIR - Excellent written and spoken English; German advantageous but not required - Experience with CubeSats or small satellites (nice‑to‑have) - Led assembly, integration and test (AIT) activities (nice‑to‑have) - Integrated payload software with external platforms (nice‑to‑have) - Familiarity with ECSS or NASA software standards (nice‑to‑have) - Knowledge of SpaceWire, CAN, UART, SPI, I²C, Ethernet, CCSDS protocols (nice‑to‑have) - Worked with cFS, F Prime, RTEMS, FreeRTOS, Zephyr frameworks (nice‑to‑have) - Autonomous systems development experience (nice‑to‑have) - FPGA/firmware co‑design background (nice‑to‑have) - Experience with EGSE, simulators or ground software (nice‑to‑have) - Participation in international collaborations (nice‑to‑have) - Awareness of flight software suppliers (nice‑to‑have)