Flight Software Engineer (Communications)
Rendezvous Robotics · Golden, CO
$95,000–$170,000from the description
Jul 14, 2026
Golden, CO
Jul 21, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
This role centers on the communications and networking software for a distributed, multi-vehicle spacecraft system. The engineer will own the pub/sub middleware and message schemas, IP networking across a dynamic topology, time synchronization, and the interfaces between onboard transport and ground systems, including RF link software. It suits someone with solid C++ and hands-on networking experience, ideally in embedded or real-time environments.
Senior level · 5+ years · Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO · Full-time
“or” means any one of them counts — you don't need all of them.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
How this req sits in the market our data
Roughly 70 people in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO area plausibly meet what this posting asks for (software developers). range 20–120
Applicant volume Moderate — A normal amount of company. The rare requirements below are what will separate a shortlisted application from the rest.
Rare in this occupation — lead with these, and say what you built with them.
Most people in this occupation already list these. Still required — just not what gets you shortlisted.
What the occupation pays Median $140,636 (middle half $126,359–$175,118). This posting is about at that midpoint.
Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Jul 28, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (5)
The posting is open to two levels simultaneously — 'Engineer' ($95K–$140K) and 'Senior Engineer' ($140K–$170K) — with the 5+ years experience requirement bracketed as '[Senior level only]'. The compensation range shown spans both levels; the seniority classification here reflects the Senior track, which is the more demanding gate.
Degree in CS, computer engineering, or EE is listed as a basic qualification but explicitly accepts 'equivalent experience', so no formal degree is hard-required.
The pub/sub middleware requirement is stated generically ('experience with a messaging or pub/sub middleware'); DDS specifically (Fast-DDS, RTI Connext, CycloneDDS) appears only under Preferred Qualifications.
Dynamic/mesh routing protocols (Babel, OLSR, OSPF) and IPv6 are listed under Preferred Qualifications; OSPF is used as the primary name with the others as alternatives.
ITAR compliance is required (US persons only), but no formal US government security clearance is gated.
Read the full posting
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