---
title: 'Principal Software Systems Engineer at Red Canyon Engineering & Software'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-software-systems-engineer-red-canyon-engineering-software-united-2c6sx38xgnrs'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Principal Software Systems Engineer at Red Canyon Engineering & Software

- **Company:** Red Canyon Engineering & Software
- **Location:** United States
- **Compensation:** $75–$95/hr
- **Employment:** contract
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-09-10
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/redcanyonsoftware/cf6cc0f1-c735-40a0-bef3-36847fa84163

## Job description

Do you want to help a small company make a BIG difference in space? Do you take ownership of your job and responsibility for your actions? Then come work for Red Canyon and help us continue our mission of helping humankind reach the stars!

Red Canyon Engineering and Software: “Exploring Other Planets, Improving our Own”

Red Canyon contracts with NASA, NOAA, NREL, JPL, and DOD, in addition to customers such as Lockheed Martin Space, Raytheon, Sierra Space, a.i. solutions, Walt Disney Imagineering, SAIC, Sidus Space, Ball Aerospace, SpaceX, Honeywell, KBRwyle, Peraton, LASP, Maxar, Blue Origin, and Moog. We specialize in building spacecraft, developing renewable energy technologies to help make our planet a better world and cutting edge research and development. Our disciplines include embedded flight software, software testing, GN&C, systems engineering, mechanical design, structural analysis, real time flight and ground software, simulation software, user interface software, and mission management software. We help our contractors with the full life cycle of product development from requirements to test and delivery.

Some of the programs we have previously or currently worked on include: Human Lander System, Artemis I-II, WorldView Legion V, Perseverance Rover, InSight, GeoXO, Tranche-1, LizzieSat, Dream Chaser, Psyche, Mars 98, Odyssey 01, Stardust, Genesis and Deep Impact, Mars Phoenix, Joint Polar Satellite System, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Orion, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, GOES-R, OSIRIS-REx, Maven, JUNO, Grail, and the MarsFlight and LunarSIM Simulation.

Red Canyon’s home office is located in scenic Denver, Colorado, and our regional office, Launch Now, is in historic downtown Titusville, Florida. We are a small company that maintains a flat organization to decrease our overhead and costs to our customers. Our number one focus is to solve some of the most complicated engineering problems humankind is facing.

Does it sound like you want to join our mission?

## About Red Canyon Engineering & Software

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Red Canyon Engineering & Software is a Denver-based aerospace and defense engineering firm that develops flight software, systems engineering, and mission-critical technology for space exploration and national security programs.
- **Entity Type**: Private — funding stage not disclosed; SBA-certified HUBZone and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)
- **Headquarters**: 1200 Pennsylvania St, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80203, United States
- **Founded**: 2000
- **Founders**: Barry Hamilton — CEO & Founder

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Defense & Space; Aerospace Engineering; Software Engineering
- **Target customers**: B2G/B2B — U.S. government agencies (NASA, NOAA, NREL, JPL, DOD), aerospace primes, and commercial space customers
- **Mission/purpose**: "To create innovative engineering solutions to answer science’s most challenging questions about our ecosystem and the cosmos."

## Products & Services
- **Flight Software / cFS**: Core Flight Software (cFS) and embedded flight software development for spacecraft simulation, modeling, closed-loop testing, and mission operations.
- **Systems Engineering & Integration (I&T)**: Satellite systems engineering, assembly, integration, and test support, including remote satellite I&T roles.
- **Simulation & Modeling**: Navigation simulation, modeling tools, and test environments for aerospace and defense missions.
- **Mechanical Design & Analysis**: Structural analysis and mechanical design services for space and defense hardware.
- **Engineering & Technical Services**: Broad engineering services for government and commercial customers, including R&D, systems engineering, and AI-enabled defense solutions.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private company)
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue estimated at **$20.9M**; total funding not publicly available
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: NASA, NOAA, NREL, JPL, DOD, Lockheed Martin Space, Raytheon, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Ball Aerospace, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Honeywell, Maxar, Moog, Walt Disney Imagineering, SAIC, and others
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Headcount grew **+4.7% YoY** to approximately **35 employees**
  - Active job postings increased **+350% quarter-over-quarter** at the time of research
  - Selected as an awardee on the Missile Defense Agency’s **SHIELD IDIQ contract** — a 10-year, multiple-award vehicle with a potential **$151B ceiling** for multi-domain defense capabilities
  - Maintains a diverse portfolio spanning aerospace, defense, robotics, and engineering research

## Competitive Advantages
- **Small-business agility with mission credibility**: Deep relationships with NASA, DOD, and major primes despite a lean team.
- **Certified SDVOSB and HUBZone**: Eligible for set-aside contracts and viewed as a strategic partner for government customers.
- **Specialized flight-software expertise**: Strong reputation in Core Flight Software (cFS), simulation, and embedded systems.
- **Founder-led and employee-focused culture**: Low politics, CEO open-door policy, and stable project portfolio reduce churn risk.
- **Flexible work model**: Work-location-agnostic posture where customer requirements allow, with a mix of remote, hybrid, and on-site roles.

## Strategic Focus
- Scale capabilities through the **MDA SHIELD IDIQ** and pursue task orders in R&D, systems engineering, modeling & simulation, AI-enabled solutions, and mission-critical defense services.
- Continue serving NASA’s space exploration and science missions, including Mars, comet, and human spacecraft programs.
- Recruit and retain top-tier engineers who can integrate seamlessly with customer teams.
- Maintain a values-driven culture focused on education, conservation, long-term awareness, and public outreach for space exploration.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as a "kick-ass culture" that emphasizes passion, minimal politics, and enjoyment of the work; employees frequently highlight project variety and a strong reputation across aerospace and robotics.
- **Work model**: Flexible/modified schedules and work-location-agnostic roles when customer approval allows; many current openings are remote or hybrid, but some are on-site customer-dependent.
- **Compensation & benefits**:
  - Competitive salaries, including reported estimates such as **Flight Software Engineer ~$128.7K**, **Recruiter ~$78.8K**, and **Accounting Supervisor ~$95.4K** annually
  - Health, dental, vision, telehealth, and HSA with employer match
  - **401(k) with 6% employer contribution** with no employee match required
  - Year-end profit sharing
  - HUBZone monetary incentives
  - Employee referral and new-business referral bonuses
  - Paid opportunities for research, conferences, and public outreach
- **Reviews**: Employer rating **4.0/5.0** from 16 reviews, with **Work-Life 4.3**, **Culture 4.1**, **Career 4.0**, and **Compensation 3.9**.
- **Leadership access**: CEO open-door policy via call, text, or video chat.
- **Team events**: Launches, concerts, happy hours, and community engagement activities.

## Sources
1. [redcanyonsoftware.com](https://redcanyonsoftware.com/about-us/)
2. [redcanyonsoftware.com](https://redcanyonsoftware.com/why-work-for-us/)
3. [craft.co](https://craft.co/red-canyon-engineering-software)
4. [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/red-canyon-engineering)
5. [jobs.lever.co](https://jobs.lever.co/redcanyonsoftware)

## Other roles at Red Canyon Engineering & Software

- [Flight Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-software-engineer-red-canyon-engineering-software-united-states-9g7cvwz7t8sa) — United States
- [Senior GNC Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-gnc-engineer-red-canyon-engineering-software-united-states-pppz7b87w58n) — United States
- [Senior Systems Engineer IV](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-systems-engineer-iv-red-canyon-engineering-software-united-states-da04cb685gn2) — United States
- [Senior Navigation Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-navigation-engineer-red-canyon-engineering-software-westminster-tzyv4s979es1) — Westminster, CO
- [Navigation Engineer III](https://feeny.ai/job/navigation-engineer-iii-red-canyon-engineering-software-westminster-36b76z7bd25q) — Westminster, CO
- [Flight Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/flight-software-engineer-red-canyon-engineering-software-united-states-h8yh2q9e5ffa) — United States
- [Add Your Resume to Our Database!](https://feeny.ai/job/add-your-resume-to-our-database-red-canyon-engineering-software-denver-ddde3wscy004) — Denver, CO