Flight Software Systems Engineer for Space Missions

About the role

ETH Zurich | Space, led by Prof. Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, offers a fixed-term position (initially two years, with possible extension) for a Flight Software Systems Engineer in Zurich. The role contributes to a centralized pool of space engineering expertise supporting ETH Zurich-led space projects, and covers small spacecraft, scientific instruments, robotic systems and technology demonstrators, from early mission formulation through operations.

Key responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of flight software developments and act as the main software interface to systems engineering, avionics, payload teams, mission operations and external platform providers.
• Define flight software architectures, functional decompositions, hardware-software allocations, software requirements, interfaces, specifications, interface control documents, operational concepts and verification plans.
• Develop embedded flight software in C and C++, including device drivers, telemetry and telecommand handling, onboard data management, application software and fault management, plus test scripts in languages such as Python.
• Integrate flight software with onboard computers, sensors, actuators, payloads, communication interfaces, ground systems and externally supplied platforms.
• Maintain flat-sat testbeds, perform software trade studies, and develop real-time, event-driven, autonomous, synchronization and GNC-related functions.
• Manage software baselines, configuration control, versioning, build automation, continuous integration, release management and requirements traceability.
• Run unit tests and integration, software-in-the-loop, processor-in-the-loop, hardware-in-the-loop and system-level verification and validation.
• Support risk management, anomaly investigation, non-conformance handling and technical reviews, and guide junior engineers, researchers and student teams.

Required profile

• Master's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, aerospace engineering, robotics or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in flight software, embedded software or mission-critical software systems.
• Strong C and C++ skills for resource-constrained targets, and experience with real-time operating systems, embedded Linux or bare-metal development.
• Experience in software systems engineering (architecture, functional decomposition, hardware-software allocation, requirements management, interface control).
• Experience integrating flight software with avionics, sensors, actuators, communication buses, payloads or ground systems.
• Knowledge of telemetry, telecommand, timing, autonomy, fault management and spacecraft operations.
• Experience with configuration management, version control, release processes, baselines and requirements traceability.
• English fluency; German is an advantage.

Required skills

• C and C++ programming
• Real-time operating systems, embedded Linux or bare-metal development
• Software systems engineering and embedded Linux
• Telemetry and telecommand, FDIR, and preferably ECSS, NASA or similar standards
• Spacecraft protocols such as SpaceWire, CAN, CCSDS, and flight software frameworks such as cFS, F Prime, RTEMS, FreeRTOS or Zephyr (a plus)

Applications are accepted only through the online application portal, with CV, references and diplomas, and a short video introduction instead of a motivation letter; the deadline is 4 November 2026.