Real job — pulled straight from Stoke Space’s careers page · Verified September 6, 2026 · No reposts.
Job description
Stoke Space is hiring a Vehicle Software Engineer, Rust Controls — a full-time, based in Kent, WA role ($123k–$289k). Apply directly on Stoke Space's careers page below.
Vehicle Software Engineer – Rust Controls
Location: Kent, Washington
Department: Software
At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry.
Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us.
Description
Automation links the Vehicle Software ecosystem to hardware intent. As a Rust Controls Engineer, your primary focus will be building an automation framework that lets end users compose vehicle behavior from building blocks you own. These building blocks will be used daily across the company to perform benchtop checkouts, engine hotfires, and flight objectives. You will define the right boundaries and guardrails to enable users to navigate a control language that is operationally flexible yet appropriately restrictive. You will also own pieces of automation, dogfooding your building blocks as your software commands the physical world around it.
You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly.
Responsibilities
- Design useful abstractions for hardware control behavior in a distributed system
- Create user-facing guardrails for an autonomy ecosystem
- Develop ground and vehicle automation
- Build software tests
- Support hardware test
Qualifications
- Experience with Rust and Python
- Strong systems-thinking approach with the ability to navigate complex, distributed software-hardware interactions
- Strong math background
- 2+ years of professional experience in software development, controls, or systems engineering
- Ability to prioritize, self-direct, and ask for help
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with control theory and laws
- Software language or compiler background
Benefits
- Equity – We know that our employees are the reason we succeed. To give everyone a stake in our future, we are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full-time employees.
- Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Company-paid life and disability insurance
- 401(k) plan with employer match
- 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off
- Holidays – 10 days (including an end-of-year closure)
- Paid Family/Parental Leave
- On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location)
- Dog friendly offices!
Compensation
Target Levels:
- Level 2 range: $123,480 - $185,220
- Level 3 range: $154,350 - $231,525
- Level 4 range: $192,885 - $289,380
Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis.
Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Equal Opportunity
The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status. It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII. It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring.
Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company. Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.
Separate from this I-9 process, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations. Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.
Candidate Rights & Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact careers@stokespace.com. Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.
For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here.
E-Verify
Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.
For more information on the right to work, please refer to the poster here.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the salary for Vehicle Software Engineer, Rust Controls at Stoke Space?
The estimated salary range for Vehicle Software Engineer, Rust Controls at Stoke Space is $123,000 - $289,000 USD per year.
What skills are required for Vehicle Software Engineer, Rust Controls at Stoke Space?
The required skills for Vehicle Software Engineer, Rust Controls at Stoke Space include: Rust, Python.
What is the seniority level for Vehicle Software Engineer, Rust Controls at Stoke Space?
Vehicle Software Engineer, Rust Controls at Stoke Space is a Mid Level / Senior / Staff level position.
How do I apply for Vehicle Software Engineer, Rust Controls at Stoke Space?
You can view the full description and apply for Vehicle Software Engineer, Rust Controls at Stoke Space on EchoJobs: https://echojobs.io/job/stoke-space-vehicle-software-engineer-rust-controls-fzx55.