Principal Engineer – Test Systems Software

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.

We're looking for a hands-on Principal Engineer to lead the technical direction of our Test Bench Control System software platform. You will combine deep software engineering expertise with architectural ownership and product-level thinking to ensure our platform reliably supports integrated engine hot-fire testing — with an architecture that can extend to broader test and ground operations as the program matures.

You will own the software platform that sits between test engineers and the real-time control layer: enabling operators to author, review, and deploy test sequences and configurable safety parameters onto PLC hardware — while providing the live data visualization, command interfaces, and traceability infrastructure that test campaigns depend on.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

In your capacity as a Principal Engineer, Test Systems Software you will:

- Define and evolve the platform architecture spanning test sequence authoring, PLC configuration deployment, real-time data acquisition, and operator interfaces

- Write production-grade code across the full stack while owning the technical roadmap and driving major architectural decisions

- Translate test requirements and operational needs into feature specifications, managing scope and delivering incrementally toward operational capability

- Build high-throughput data pipelines for real-time ingestion, processing, and visualization of high-rate sensor data

- Design the full lifecycle for both operational sequences and configurable safety parameters

- Define data acquisition standards including device configuration management and calibration traceability

- Architect for high reliability, observability, and operational robustness in environments where software faul...