Software Safety & Mission Assurance Specialist

At Kepler Communications , we're not just imagining the future of on-demand space connectivity - we're leading it! Our mission is to provide real-time on-orbit connectivity for critical missions, enabling a new era of data-driven intelligence and innovation. With 33 satellites launched to date, Kepler operates the first commercial optical data relay constellation, enabling real-time, continuous space communications while supporting advanced on-orbit compute and hosted payload capabilities. 

Industry-leading technology is only part of the story. What sets Kepler apart is our team: bold thinkers, skilled builders, and passionate problem-solvers who thrive on pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space. We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to creating an environment where you can grow, lead, and make a global impact.    If you’re ready to reach higher, move faster, and do work that shapes the future space economy - this is your launchpad. Come build the future with Kepler!      What We Offer:

• Competitive compensation  with a robust equity plan to share in our success. 
• Comprehensive coverage for health, dental, and vision insurance —including dependents. 
• Unlimited vacation, supportive parental leave policy,  and company-wide holiday shutdown. 
• Semi-annual company-wide parties  and frequent in-office team events. 
• Relocation packages  available for approved roles. 
• $1,500 annual professional development fund  to support your growth. 
• Fully stocked Toronto office kitchen  with snacks, drinks, games and top-notch kitchen appliances. 
• Town Halls, Celebration Calls, and Company-wide events  to stay connected and engaged. 
• We’re a certified  Great Place to Work ®, five years in a row! The Software Safety & Mission Assurance Specialist serves as the independent Software Assurance authority for one or more satellite programs, providing objective oversight of software products, development processes, suppliers, and verification activities throughout the program lifecycle.

This position integrates the disciplines traditionally associated with Software Product Assurance (SPA) and Software Quality Assurance (SQA) into a single engineering function responsible for ensuring software is developed, verified, and released in accordance with mission assurance objectives, customer requirements, and applicable industry standards.

Working independently from Software Engineering while partnering closely with Systems Engineering, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Product Assurance, Operations, and Program Management, the Software Safety & Mission Assurance Specialist provides independent technical assessment of software risk, verifies compliance with established processes and standards, and supports informed program decisions regarding software readiness for flight.

Key Responsibilities: Software Product Assurance

Develop, implement, and maintain the Software Product Assurance strategy throughout the software lifecycle

Evaluate software requirements, design, implementation, verification, validation, and operational readiness for compliance with program and mission assurance requirements. Review architecture of the software

Assess software safety, criticality reliability, security, maintainability, and configuration integrity using a risk-based approach

Evaluate software contributions to system hazards and support software safety analyses including Software Hazard Analysis, STPA, FTA, and software criticality assessments

Assess residual software risk and provide independent recommendations regarding software acceptance operational use

 

Software Quality Assurance

Verify compliance with approved software development processes, quality management systems, customer requirements, and applicable industry standards

Conduct independent process and product audits throughout the software lifecycle

Verify implementation of peer reviews, configuration management, coding standards, testing, release controls, and defect management processes

Monitor software quality metrics and trends to identify emerging risks and opportunities for continuous improvement

Support corrective and preventive actions (CAPA), root cause investigations, and organizational process improvement initiatives

 

Verification, Validation & Test Oversight

Assess software verification and validation strategies for completeness, independence, appropriate rigor, and traceability

Review verification plans, procedures, coverage analyses, and test evidence

Witness formal verification activities when required

Verify that software anomalies are appropriately dispositioned prior to release

Support Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) activities as applicable

 

Configuration & Change Assurance

Participate as an independent member of Software Change Control Boards (CCBs)

Evaluate the mission assurance impact of proposed software changes

Verify configuration baseline integrity prior to formal software releases

Assess software release readiness and configuration status accounting

 

Supplier Assurance

Evaluate supplier software development processes and assurance activities

Participate in supplier audits, technical reviews, and product evaluations

Assess supplier compliance with contractual, regulatory, and mission assurance requirements

Monitor supplier corrective actions and associated risk mitigation activities

 

Mission & Operational Assurance

Support software acceptance, deployment, commissioning, and operational readiness

Participate in anomaly investigations affecting flight or ground software

Assess operational software trends, recurring defects, and mission impacts

Support mission readiness reviews and post-flight lessons learned activities

 

Required Skills and Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline

7+ years of experience supporting software development within aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, or other safety-critical industries

Experience with software development lifecycle processes and software verification and validation

Experience performing software process audits, quality assessments, or assurance activities

Working knowledge of software configuration management and change control

Experience operating within regulated engineering environments

Bonus Points: Experience supporting spacecraft, launch vehicle, satellite, or other spaceflight programsKnowledge of:

ECSS-Q-ST-80

ECSS-E-ST-40

ECSS-Q-ST-20

NPR 7150.2

NASA-STD-8739.8

NASA-STD-8719.13

Experience with:

AS9100 or ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems

Software Hazard Analysis

STPA

Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)

Software criticality analysis

Software FMEA

Agile software development in safety-critical environments

DOORS, Jama, Polarion, Jira, Confluence, Git, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps

SonarQube, Coverity, or equivalent static analysis tools

Salary Range: $80,781 - 130,781 CAD

Actual total compensation will be determined at the Company’s discretion and is based on a variety of job-related factors, which may include, but are not limited to, relevant knowledge, skills, experience, performance, and education and/or training. The Company encourages all qualified applicants to apply, even if the posted salary range does not align with their expectations, as it does not reflect our total compensation package.  Job Type: This is for a current vacancy

Employment Equity & Accommodation Statement   Kepler Communications is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals, including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.    If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact our People & Culture team at [email protected] , and we will work with you to meet your needs.