Flight Software Subsystem Lead

The space industry is an exciting place to be – technology advancements and cost reductions across the industry are fuelling a vibrant new space economy. Rapid growth in the commercial sector and the development of new space applications promise to benefit people globally, improving communication, education, healthcare, access to information, and a host of other services. Like any terrestrial ecosystem, the one emerging in space will need supporting services. ClearSpace was founded in 2018 with the mission of making this thriving commercial space economy more sustainable, affordable, and reliable by offering a wide variety of in-orbit services.

ClearSpace was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for its first flagship in-orbit servicing mission, focused on active debris removal (ADR). The ground-breaking ClearSpace-1 Mission will launch in 2025 and will safely deorbit an uncontrolled ESA owned object, the first step in cleaning up space for future generations. The technology developed and expertise gained on this mission will accelerate ClearSpace’s entrance into the commercial in-orbit service market, where we will provide the wide range of services that the new space economy will need. ClearSpace is not addressing the challenges of this missions alone, it is supported by a consortium of some of the most exciting space companies and organizations in Europe.

ClearSpace has grown to a team of over 50 space, business and sustainability experts from around the world. To meet the challenges of the ClearSpace-1 Mission, and future commercial opportunities, ClearSpace is currently scaling its team of passionate employees further in both Switzerland and the UK. ClearSpace is actively recruiting a Flight Software Subsystem Lead in Switzerland to work within the Software Team. Come and join our adventure!

The Role

In this role, the successful candidate will lead flight software development activities to produce industry-grade, state-of-the-art, critical software that run on various satellite computers and equipments, both those performed within ClearSpace and those conducted at subcontractors. Among these activities, the successful candidate will be deeply involved in the system design, with a focus on assessing the impact on the software functionalities spread over the different on-board equipments.

The successful candidate will lead software design activities, with a special focus on the following tasks:

• Writing clear and verifiable software requirements in line with system-level requirements
• Leading a team of highly specialized engineers in the internal software team
• Acting as a key point of contact within the company for Flight Software
• Participating in software technical activities
• Defining subcontractors activities, writing Statements of Work and negotiating Subcontracts
• Following subcontractors’ activities and leading periodic and regular Progress Reviews
• Participating in Customer Progress Meetings and interacting in dedicated meetings with their experts
• Leading software reviews and actively participating to acceptance milestones
• Assessing software quality according to applicable standards
• Interacting with the Ground Segment to fully define mission operational needs
• Chairing the continual improvement processes relating to software development
  

Desired Experience:

• Significant experience with highly-critical embedded software design and development, such as several years delivering projects in various fields of application like automotive, airborne systems, medical or space systems
• Advanced knowledge of defining software functionalities from a system view in a top to bottom approach
• Deep understanding of system design
• Thorough and rigorous – proven track record delivering high quality software to applicable standards
• Strong knowledge of describing systems and software using UML diagrams
• Expert in C and C++ development and cross-compilation toolchains
• Strong experience and excellent knowledge in designing real-time, multi-tasking, high-level software with resource concurrent access management
• Strong knowledge on existing RTOS on the market: RTEMS, FreeRTOS, VxWorks, QNX, …
• Familiarity with the space industry with a proven track record delivering space missions
• Knowledge of software design and development ECSS standards
• Knowledge of CCSDS standards (e.g. CCSDS 133)
• Experience of applying software development cycles (e.g. V-cycle)
• Knowledge in industry grade software quality standards (e.g. MISRA or JSF)
• At least few years of experience in team management

Desired Education:

• MSc Degree in Computer Science or similar

Desired Strengths:

• A team player, willing to get stuck in and collaborate wherever is needed
• Agile, flexible and able to work across a geographically-distributed teams
• A great communicator

ClearSpace Offers:

• The freedom to evolve and grow within a team of experienced specialists
• The opportunity to be a key player in one of the most exciting satellite missions
• A caring and collaborative working environment
• The possibility of (partial) remote working and flexible hours
  

Ideal Starting Date:ASAP