Senior Backend Software Engineer

About the role

The Role:

Due to team growth, we are seeking an experienced Software Engineer to join our Sat OS team, which develops the high-level operating system and file transfer layer for the spacecraft

The successful candidate will play a crucial role in developing software for our satellite systems, contributing to the expansion and enhancement of our space and ground-based data transfer capabilities. Ideal candidates will embrace the commercialization of nanosatellite systems and adapt to low-cost, fast-paced systems design, development, and implementation methodologies that set Spire apart from our competition. In this fast-paced environment, the design to launch cycle is measured in weeks and months, not years!

What You’ll Do as a Sat OS Software Engineer:

- Develop and enhance satellite-side applications with a focus on file transfer to and from the satellite and its payloads

- Contribute to the design and implementation of the next generation of Spire’s File Transfer architecture (Rust)

- Ensure that Spire’s file transfer services meet internal and mission-driven security standards

- Enhance observability and fault-tolerance of Spire’s file transfer services

- Take responsibility for the performance of critical file transfer services that contribute to the movement of data to and from Spire’s entire fleet of nanosatellites

- Contribute to the design and implementation of highly available, fault-tolerant systems to meet the demands of new customer missions

- Perform ground-based testing and in-orbit verification of new software services

- Coordinate closely with Spire’s communications team, systems engineering, product owners, and internal customers to ensure alignment and optimal integration with interfacing hardware and software services

- Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for APIs and system architectures

- Implement observability solutions for space and ground-based services to provide a clear and actionable view of service performance

Basic Skills/Qualifications:

- 5+ years’ experience in professional software development

- Proven experience in production-grade software development using at least one compiled language

- Proficiency in Python or equivalent high-level language

- Experience writing applications between L3 and L7 networking layers and familiarity with L2/L3 protocols

- Knowledge of Linux-based development

- Excellent documentation, collaboration, and communication skills

- Systems-level thinking (distributed, scalable, highly available) with an appetite for creating and adapting applications

- Hands-on experience with Cloud Computing Platforms (AWS), IaC and modern CI/CD pipelines

- Knowledge of version control systems

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

- Proficiency in Python and Rust