Senior Manager - On-Board Embedded Firmware/Software - Global Satellite Project - EU Nationality Required

Type - Freelance

Location - Luxembourg - Hybrid

ROLE DESCRIPTION

You will own the on-board payload software for a high-performance satellite communications system, defining its architecture, technical direction, and delivery. This role combines deep technical leadership with team-building, establishing the practices needed to scale from early demonstrations to full production, balancing new space agility with systems engineering rigor.

Within your first year, you and your team will design, build, test, and integrate a complete on-board software stack across multiple payload subsystems, interfacing with the satellite bus. Within two years, this software is expected to be flight-proven in orbit.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Architecture & Delivery

• Define the end-to-end on-board software architecture, including language, RTOS/middleware, and observability choices
• Lead development of real-time data-plane and control-plane components (Rust/C/C++), including scheduling, resource management, and FDIR
• Own integration on flight-representative hardware, ensuring performance, determinism, and reliability

Hardware / Software Co-Design

• Partition functionality across CPU, FPGA, DSP, and ASIC platforms within power, thermal, memory, and radiation constraints
• Define high-rate data movement, buffer management, and timing interfaces

Interfaces & Quality

• Specify robust APIs and telemetry between on-board and ground systems
• Establish flight-grade engineering practices: CI, testing, HIL, static/dynamic analysis, and secure-by-design principles
• Design for safe in-orbit software updates

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years in embedded or real-time software for satcom, avionics, or safety-critical systems
• Strong proficiency in Rust, C, and C++
• Deep experience with RTOS or bare-metal systems
• Linux systems and driver development expertise
• Low-level programming and/or HDL experience (VHDL, Verilog, Assembly)
• Strong understanding of RF/DSP/SDR systems
• Hands-on experience with HIL, automated test pipelines, and system integration
• Proven leadership of senior technical teams
• EU nationality required

If you are interested in joining the next biggest satellite project, please reach out immediately.