About the Company
SuperSharp is an Earth-imaging company developing infrared space telescopes to capture high-resolution thermal infrared (TIR) images of the Earth. Our technology enables large-aperture telescopes to fit within compact spacecraft, making low-cost, high-resolution, and frequent Earth-imaging a reality.
Our telescopes deliver up to 10× greater resolution per unit cost than current state-of-the-art solutions, supporting applications in climate monitoring, agriculture, and global security. We are driven to create high-quality, affordable space-borne imaging systems that empower humanity to respond intelligently to global change.
About the Role
As Head of Software & Firmware, you will lead the design, development, and delivery of all embedded and control software across our space telescope systems.
You will manage a small, highly skilled team responsible for flight software, firmware, and low-level control logic spanning multiple microcontrollers, FPGAs, electromechanical systems, and imaging subsystems. As the technical authority for software, you’ll collaborate closely with the electronics, systems, and mechanical teams to ensure robust, space-ready performance under demanding mission conditions.
This is a hands-on leadership role for a technical expert who can architect systems, guide engineers, and deliver high-quality flight software on schedule.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead, mentor, and grow a small team of software and firmware engineers.
* Define software architecture and integration strategy across multiple MCU and FPGA platforms.
* Oversee development for systems utilizing: CSP (CubeSat Space Protocol) over CAN, UART, I²C, SPI, and other communication interfaces; FreeRTOS or similar real-time operating systems; Custom bootloaders, update mechanisms, and diagnostics.
* Develop and integrate driver-level code, control logic, for imaging subsystems and precision electromechanical mechanisms.
* Collaborate with electronics engineers to review schematics, debug board-level issues, and bring up new hardware.
* Work with systems engineers to define software interfaces between flight, ground, and test systems, including telemetry and data handling.
* Establish and maintain software development standards, version control, code reviews, and documentation practices.
* Ensure system robustness, reliability, and flight qualification readiness.
* Lead software test planning, verification, validation, and risk management.
* Define long-term software strategy including modularity, reuse, and scalability across missions.
* Report progress, risks, and mitigations to the leadership and mission management teams.
Primary Technical Requirements
* 6–10 years of experience in embedded software and firmware development, with some of this in a technical leadership role.
* Excellent working knowledge of C and Python.
* Experience developing Linux-based applications and daemons
* Extensive experience with Cortex-M class MCUs (e.g. M7, M4).
* Strong understanding of FreeRTOS or equivalent RTOS environments.
* Experience developing drivers for internal MCU peripherals (PWM, timers) and external components (H-bridge motor drivers, sensors).
* Strong experience with UART, I²C, SPI, and CAN communications.
* Familiarity with CSP protocol and multi-processor system design.
* Exposure to FPGA integration (e.g. Xilinx, Intel/Altera) and HDL interfaces.
* Skilled in hardware bring-up, debugging, and using instruments such as oscilloscopes and logic analyzers.
* Extensive experience with version control (Bitbucket, Git) and collaborative development practices (scrums, pull requests, code reviews).
* Experience setting up CI/CD pipelines for embedded software (GitLab, Jenkins, Buildkite) and integrating static code analysis tools.
* Experience with Makefile automation and ARM-based toolchains.
* Proficiency with embedded C IDEs (VS Code, Eclipse, MPLAB).
* Strong documentation and traceability skills — requirements, test cases, and verification reports.
Other Skills
* MSc or higher in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related discipline.
* Proven leadership, communication, and mentoring ability.
* Comfortable working in multi-disciplinary teams (electronics, mechanical, optics, systems).
* Strong problem-solving mindset and ability to deliver under tight mission timelines.
Desirable Experience
* 2 or more years of experience in a technical leadership role.
* Development experience with DC brush and stepper motors and related drivers.
* Familiarity with video codecs, encryption, and compression algorithms.
* Experience developing or integrating simulation and HIL test setups for software verification.
* Familiarity with automated unit testing frameworks (Ceedling, Unity, or custom harnesses).
* Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, LabVIEW, or custom test frameworks for closed-loop control validation.
* Experience with Agile project management and Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence).
* Experience contributing to redundancy, risk management, and test plan development.
* Prior involvement with aerospace or flight-qualified systems.
* Experience with FPGA-based control or image-processing pipelines.
* Familiarity with space software development standards, such as ECSS-E-ST-40C (Software), ECSS-Q-ST-80C (Software Product Assurance), or equivalent aerospace standards.
* Understanding of space systems, telemetry protocols, or radiation-tolerant designs.
Why Join Us
* Be part of a pioneering company redefining space telescope technology.
* Contribute to real space missions with global environmental and scientific impact.
* Lead a talented, collaborative engineering team at the forefront of space hardware innovation.
* Competitive salary and phantom share scheme
* Opportunities for technical leadership and career growth
* Private Medical and Dental Care
* Company Pension Plan and contribution
* Hybrid & Flexible Working (dependent on role)
* Holiday Allowance 25 days (plus UK bank holidays)
* Annual Professional Development allowance
* Cycle to Work & Tech Purchase Schemes
* Team Socials & Community Events
SuperSharp is a subsidiary of the Satlantis group and is an equal-opportunity employer.