Software Product Assurance Engineer

Job description

Team & Reporting Line: Program Management Team | Reports to Lead Project & Procurement Manager

Our Mission 

At constellr, we use thermal intelligence from space to understand what is happening on Earth – where, when and at scale. Our satellite constellation delivers high-resolution land surface temperature data, giving governments, defence organisations, commercial operators and global institutions the intelligence they need to monitor change, assess risk and make better-informed decisions.

From national security and critical infrastructure to agriculture and climate resilience, constellr turns temperature into actionable intelligence for a changing world.

Your Role

We are looking for a proactive and detail-driven team player to join our Product and Quality Assurance (PQA) team, with a strong focus on Flight Software Product Assurance.

In this role, you will play a critical part in ensuring the quality, safety, and reliability of both flight and ground software across our growing satellite constellation. You will work at the intersection of engineering, quality, and operations, helping to shape how we build and deliver software in a fast-moving, mission-critical space environment.

The PQA team defines and maintains the company’s quality and Product Assurance standards. Your work will directly contribute to ensuring our software meets the highest levels of robustness, compliance, and reliability, supporting mission success in both orbit and ground operations.

This is a role for someone who thrives in complex, technical environments, enjoys working across disciplines, and is comfortable balancing structured quality processes with the pace of a rapidly scaling space organisation. You will be trusted to take end-to-end ownership, bring clarity to ambiguity, and help embed strong engineering discipline across the software lifecycle.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve a robust Software Product Assurance (PA) programme, reporting directly to the Product Assurance Manager.

• Take end-to-end ownership of Software Product Assurance across both flight and ground software for our satellite constellation.

• Ensure rigorous application of software configuration management and release processes, maintaining strong version control, traceability, and engineering discipline.

• Enforce compliance with safety-critical and mission-critical software standards, with a strong focus on risk reduction and failure prevention.

• Define and oversee software testing, verification, and validation strategies across all development and delivery phases.

• Investigate, manage, and resolve software anomalies throughout development, testing, integration, and operational phases.

• Support Spacecraft Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT) activities, ensuring software readiness and compliance at every stage.

• Coordinate and lead software deliveries from suppliers, ensuring alignment with internal standards, schedules, and quality expectations.

• Participate in subcontractor reviews and key technical meetings, working closely with procurement engineers and Product Assurance stakeholders.

• Balance the demands of rapid development cycles with the need to maintain strong Product Assurance and software quality standards in a fast-paced space environment.

Job requirements

About you 

Required: 

• Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related scientific discipline.

• Proven experience in Flight Software Product Assurance within the space industry.

• Strong understanding of software testing, verification, and validation in safety-critical environments.

• Experience with embedded flight software for satellites, spacecraft platforms, or payload systems (experience with FDIR highly desirable).

• Strong proficiency in software configuration management tools and processes.

• Familiarity with ECSS standards, particularly ECSS-Q-ST-80C (Software Product Assurance) and ECSS-E-ST-40C (Software Engineering).

• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills, with experience in risk management and anomaly investigation.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines, with a proactive approach to risk identification and escalation.

• Strong team mindset, with a desire to help build and shape a growing organisation.

• Comfortable working independently, taking ownership and delivering in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.

Nice to Have_:_ 

• Experience with automation, scripting, or AI-assisted engineering tools (e.g. prompt-based workflows).

• Exposure to high-growth or start-up aerospace environments.

• Broader understanding of end-to-end spacecraft systems engineering lifecycles.

Why join constellr?

• High-Impact National Security Mission: Be part of an ambitious mission to launch the world’s first commercial thermal infrared constellation, delivering sovereign-grade "behavioural" intelligence from space to close critical blind spots for defence, intelligence, and maritime surveillance agencies.
• Fast-Paced "New Space" Innovation: Work at the leading edge of a rapidly evolving defence sector. By leveraging modern, agile New Space methodologies, you will help design, build, and deploy dual-use thermal payloads into operational orbit at a speed and scale that traditional aerospace models simply cannot match.
• Broad Interdisciplinary Exposure: Accelerate your professional growth by collaborating daily with a diverse, international cohort of astrophysicists, software developers, and defence-system engineers.
• Inclusive & Scientific Culture: Join a high-trust team deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and scientific excellence, where academic curiosity is paired with high autonomy and a flat hierarchy.
• Financial Upside & Well-being: Benefit from a Virtual Share Option Plan (VSOP) for permanent employees, giving you a true stake in the company's growth, alongside highly flexible hybrid working models.