---
title: 'Founding Flight Software Engineer at Fortastra Corporation'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/founding-flight-software-engineer-fortastra-corporation-torrance-bvmdez8md3yp'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-07'
---

# Founding Flight Software Engineer at Fortastra Corporation

- **Company:** Fortastra Corporation
- **Location:** Torrance, CA
- **Posted:** 2025-11-03
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/fortastracorporation/jobs/4052892009

## Job description

Company Overview

[Fortastra](https://www.fortastra.com) designs and delivers resilient, high-performance spacecraft that safeguard critical orbital assets and ensure freedom of action in space. We integrate advanced autonomy, sensing, and control into systems engineered for reliability, speed, and scale. Our culture values simplicity, accountability, and disciplined execution — empowering every engineer to think systemically, act decisively, and build with purpose. Aggressive innovation. Disciplined execution. Strength among the stars.

We recently raised $8M in seed capital and are led by visionary founder and former Hermeus co-founder, [Mike Smayda](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsmayda).

## Team / Department

You will join Fortastra’s Engineering Division, responsible for the design, development, and test of flight systems across our autonomous spacecraft portfolio.

## The Role

Fortastra is seeking a Founding 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.

## Key Responsibilities

- Build mission operations software — the ground tools that plan, execute, and monitor missions in real time.
- Develop and integrate flight software for the vehicle — from architecture and implementation to test and flight readiness.
- Develop ground software services for telemetry, commanding, and visualization.
- Write embedded software for flight computers, sensors, and actuators.
- Collaborate with avionics, propulsion, and GNC teams to define software interfaces and data models.
- Contribute to flight software CI/CD pipelines, testing frameworks, and simulation environments.
- Support software-in-the-loop testing, hardware-in-the-loop testing, environmental testing, and flight campaigns.

## Qualifications & Skills

- B.S. Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical, or other sciences and/or physics based degree
- Prior experience in systems and mission operations software
- Experience with ground software, mission ops, or telemetry/command systems.
- Experience with space systems - rovers, satellites, launch vehicles, etc.
- Familiarity developing embedded software for real-time or safety-critical systems (aerospace, robotics, automotive, or similar).
- Exposure to DevOps for embedded systems and automated testing pipelines.
- Familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop, fault tolerance, and safety-critical standards.
- Experience with cloud-based ground systems or mission control software
- Ability to work independently and in small, fast-moving teams.
- Work is on-site, remote or hybrid arrangements will not be considered
- U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain or have an active TS/SCI clearance (US Person considered)

Why Fortastra?

Join a small, high-impact team developing the next generation of autonomous orbital control systems for national security space. At Fortastra, engineers own the full lifecycle — from concept through flight — shaping the future of trusted, resilient spacecraft autonomy.

## About Fortastra Corporation

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Fortastra is building intelligent, maneuverable spacecraft designed to protect critical on-orbit infrastructure for government, allied, and commercial customers.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed/Early Stage)
- **Headquarters**: Torrance, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2025
- **Founders**: Mike Smayda (CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Aerospace & Defense, Space Security
- **Target customers**: U.S. Government (Space Force, DoD), allied and partner nations, commercial satellite operators
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To build the systems that keep space safe by developing spacecraft that maneuver, assess, and take action to protect the space systems the world depends on.

## Products & Services
- **Watchdog Satellite Line**: A planned family of maneuverable, autonomous satellites designed to act as "bodyguards" for high-value space assets. Long-term goal includes in-house satellite bus production.
- **Stuntman Test Rig**: A ground-based robotic arm test system used to practice close-in maneuvering, refine software, and validate autonomy suites before orbital deployment.
- **Satellite-as-a-Service (Saa S) Model**: Planned offering for allied and partner nations for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, similar to company-owned, company-operated ISR platforms in the air domain.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (early-stage private company)
- **Key Metric**: 16 employees as of mid-2026; first two spacecraft scheduled for launch on SpaceX Transporter-18 rideshare in late 2026
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not publicly disclosed; CEO Mike Smayda previously co-founded Hermeus (hypersonic aircraft startup) and spent five years at SpaceX
- **Growth Signals**: Rapidly scaling from founding in 2025 to 16 employees and two spacecraft ready for launch within ~18 months; building out 4,000 sq. ft. workspace; actively hiring across engineering and operations

## Competitive Advantages
- **First-mover in active space defense**: Unlike traditional satellites designed for observation or communication, Fortastra’s architecture is purpose-built for maneuver, threat assessment, and active protection.
- **Founder pedigree**: CEO Mike Smayda brings deep experience from SpaceX (large-scale systems, rapid iteration) and Hermeus (government contracting, scaling nimble operations).
- **Multi-orbit strategy**: Long-term vision to provide zone defense across multiple orbits, not just point defense, addressing a growing gap as space becomes congested and contested.
- **Focus on autonomy**: Developing sophisticated software and GN&C systems to enable autonomous close-in maneuvering and threat response.

## Strategic Focus
- **Near-term**: Execute first orbital test launch on SpaceX Transporter-18 (late 2026); burn down technical risk on Watchdog satellite platform.
- **Mid-term**: Transition from sourced satellite buses to in-house production; expand satellite-as-a-service offerings for allied nations and commercial customers.
- **Long-term**: Become the premier provider of on-orbit security for critical space infrastructure including future fuel depots, pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs, and military assets.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven work**: Directly contribute to protecting the space systems that global society depends on, at a company that values action, rigor, and solving hard problems.
- **Early-stage equity**: Employees receive early-stage equity, sharing in the company’s growth from the ground up.
- **Comprehensive benefits**: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision for employees and their families; unlimited and flexible PTO.
- **Performance-focused culture**: Described as a performance-focused, people-first culture that invests in well-being so employees can focus on building spacecraft that matter.
- **Hands-on impact**: With only 16 people, employees have significant ownership and the chance to shape both the technology and the company’s trajectory.
- **Location**: Based in Torrance, CA (Southern California), with a dedicated workshop and test facilities.
- **ITAR requirements**: Many roles require U.S. citizenship or U.S. person status as defined by ITAR.

## Sources
1. [fortastra.com](https://www.fortastra.com/)
2. [fortastra.com/careers](https://www.fortastra.com/careers)
3. [Aviation Week](https://aviationweek.com/space/satellites/debrief-startup-preparing-spaces-neighborhood-watch-era)
4. [Greenhouse Jobs](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/fortastracorporation/jobs/4052867009)
5. [Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/2628142D:US)

## Other roles at Fortastra Corporation

- [Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/guidance-navigation-and-control-gn-c-engineer-fortastra-corporation-torrance-29wxs5nz4b4f) — Torrance, CA
- [Head of Supply Chain](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-supply-chain-fortastra-corporation-torrance-1s2mnd4xjaf4) — Torrance, CA
- [Head of Guidance, Navigation, and Control](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-guidance-navigation-and-control-fortastra-corporation-torrance-0758r3re7apj) — Torrance, CA