Fortastra Corporation, Torrance, CA +1
Fortastra is seeking a Flight Software Engineer. As part of our early engineering team, your scope of work will focus on developing and integrating the flight software stack end-to-end — spanning ground-side mission operations tools, and vehicle-side embedded software. You’ll work closely with avionics, GNC, and systems engineers to help bring our vehicle from concept to flight.
Why Fortastra
We are a small, high-impact team building the next generation of autonomous orbital control systems for national security space. At Fortastra, leaders own outcomes from first principles through flight and directly shape the future of resilient, mission-critical spacecraft autonomy.
Fortastra operates at the intersection of aerospace, national defense, and advanced technology. We design and deploy cutting-edge space and defense systems with the speed and focus of a startup, and the discipline required to meet the most demanding mission requirements. Our work directly supports the security and resilience of the United States and its allies, and we approach that mission with urgency, innovation, and a deep sense of responsibility.
You will join Fortastra’s Engineering Division, responsible for the design, development, and test of flight systems across our autonomous spacecraft portfolio.
We value engineers and operators who prioritize sound judgment, candor, technical rigor, bias for action, and intellectual honesty over corporate consensus. We care about the caliber of the system you build and the speed at which you solve problems.
A high-performing startup is built on dense talent, not organizational bloat. A single exceptional engineer designs, tests, and delivers faster than a bloated committee. We intentionally maintain a lean, elite engineering crew where every contributor directly moves the needle on the mission.
We hire domain experts to execute, not to micromanage them. You own your systems end-to-end, from initial architecture and hardware design to testing and deployment. With absolute ownership comes the responsibility to deliver mission critical reliability.
The best execution happens when teams are provided clear technical objectives, constraints, and operational context, rather than rigid top-down policies. We strip away red tape so builders can iterate, make decisions, and push hardware and flight software forward rapidly.
We move fast because we test often and kill artificial bottlenecks, not because we cut corners. Rapid iteration on the test stand and in simulation is how we learn; an uncompromising flight-readiness bar is how we earn trust. Precision without friction, speed without recklessness.
You don’t come to Fortastra to climb a corporate ladder or manage slide decks; you come to build complex, flight-ready systems from day one. Growth here is organic, driven by the magnitude of technical challenges you solve and the trust you build across the team.
We take care of our employees so they can focus on what matters most: family, well-being, and life outside of work.
Unlimited Paid Time Off so that you have the time you need to rest and recharge.
Comprehensive Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, because peace of mind starts with feeling cared for.
Equity: Share in Fortastra's success with equity in the company you're helping build.
401(k): A 401(k) plan to help you invest in your future and plan for what's ahead.
Social Events: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities that make this a place people are glad to be part of.
The pay range for this role is $180,000.00 - $250,000.00. Where an offer falls within that range depends on factors like your qualifications, experience, location, and interview performance, which we weigh against the market rate for the position.
Recruiters & Agencies: Fortastra does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from recruiters, agencies, or third parties. Any candidate submitted without a signed agreement and prior written authorization from Fortastra will not be subject to any fee, and no relationship is implied. Please do not contact Fortastra employees, hiring managers, or recruiting team directly.
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