Ground Software Engineer

Obruta Space Solutions Corp.; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health & dental

3 weeks paid annual leave

Job summary

Obruta Space Solutions Corp. is seeking a Ground Software Engineer to lead our mission control UI and telemetry visualization ecosystem. You will adapt NASA Open MCT to ingest, display, and command the RPOD Kit during real-time flight operations and HITL simulations.

You will design telemetry dictionaries, build responsive displays, containerize SITL twins, and ensure reliable ground operations for commercial satellite partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/SE/AE or related field.
• Hands-on experience with open-source mission control systems (Open MCT or COSMOS) or similar dashboards.
• Strong knowledge of real-time protocols (WebSockets, gRPC, REST).
• Experience with Docker and container orchestration.
• Good UI/UX sense for high-reliability monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Deploy and customize NASA Open MCT for Obruta's ground control.
• Implement real-time telemetry pipelines and standardized dictionaries.
• Containerize SITL digital twin and integrate with ground endpoints.
• Design intuitive mission displays and alarm thresholds.
• Mentor co-op students on UI features and testing tools.

Skills

Open MCT

Telemetry visualization

Real-time data pipelines

WebSockets/REST APIs

Containerization (Docker)

UI/UX for mission displays

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Software Engineering/Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NASA Open MCT

COSMOS (Ball Aerospace)

Docker

RESTful APIs

Job description

Location: Ottawa, Ontario (Hybrid / Remote-First with periodic work at the Ottawa facility)
Position Type: Full-Time
Compensation: Salary & Stock Options
Benefits: Comprehensive Health & Dental package, starting 3 weeks paid annual leave
Contact: If you have issues with your application, please email [e-mail]

About Obruta

Founded in 2019, Obruta Space Solutions is enabling the in-space economy by developing the advanced autonomy systems required for in-orbit satellite servicing, logistics, and active debris removal. Today’s satellites are single-use assets that cannot be refueled, inspected, or repaired. Obruta is eliminating this barrier with our flagship product: the RPOD Kit —a turnkey, vision-guided Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) subsystem that makes autonomous spacecraft docking commonplace.

Backed by leading venture capital and top-tier space innovation programs, Obruta is executing cutting-edge perception and navigation projects with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), National Research Council (NRC), and international commercial partners.

The Role

Obruta is seeking a skilled Ground Software Engineer to spearhead the development and deployment of our mission control and telemetry visualization ecosystem.

In this role, you will be the primary owner of Obruta’s operator interface, adapting and extending NASA’s Open Mission Control Technologies (Open MCT) framework to ingest, visualize, and command the RPOD Kit during real-time flight operations and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HITL) simulation campaigns. You will design standardized telemetry dictionaries, build responsive mission displays, and containerize Software-in-the-Loop (SITL) digital twins to provide commercial satellite operators with intuitive, real-time situational awareness during high-stakes proximity and docking maneuvers.

Key Responsibilities

• NASA Open MCT Architecture & Plugin Development: Deploy, customize, and maintain NASA Open MCT as Obruta's primary ground control and telemetry visualization platform.
• Standardized Telemetry Pipelines: Implement real-time data ingestion pipelines using standardized space telemetry protocols, including XTCE dictionaries, CCSDS packet formats, WebSockets, and REST APIs.
• Digital Twin Containerization: Containerize compiled RPOD Kit flight software and GNC algorithms (SITL digital twin) to integrate seamlessly with the Polar simulation engine and ground control endpoints.
• Operator UI/UX & Mission Displays: Design intuitive, high-reliability telemetry displays, alarm thresholds, state-machine monitors, and 3D situational awareness views for spacecraft operators and ground personnel.
• Human-in-the-Loop (HuTL) Validation: Support operator cognitive-load testing and mission rehearsal simulations to validate that ground operators can effectively monitor autonomous FDIR decision-making and safety trajectories.
• API & Communication Middleware: Build robust backend services and middleware to bridge ground network protocols with onboard flight computers (NVIDIA Jetson / ARM architectures).
• Student Mentorship: Mentor co-op software engineering students contributing to ground UI features, custom widgets, and automated test tools

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience developing with or extending open-source mission control systems—specifically NASA Open MCT , COSMOS (Ball Aerospace) , or equivalent SCADA / real-time telemetry dashboards.
• Solid understanding of real-time communication protocols (WebSockets, Server-Sent Events, TCP/UDP sockets, gRPC, RESTful APIs).
• Experience with containerization technologies ( Docker , container orchestration) and deploying isolated software environments.
• Strong UI/UX sensibilities for mission-critical monitoring, data-dense graphing, and real-time alarming systems.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in Canada. Successful candidates must able to obtain and maintain a security assessment under the Controlled Goods Program.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Familiarity with space communication standards and telemetry formats ( XTCE , CCSDS , Space Packet Protocol).
• Experience interfacing ground control software with hardware testbeds, FlatSats, or simulation environments (Unreal Engine, MATLAB/Simulink).
• Understanding of satellite operations, orbital mechanics basics, or spacecraft subsystem telemetry (ADCS/GNC, EPS, thermal).
• Experience with time-series databases (e.g., InfluxDB, TimescaleDB, Redis) and real-time data streaming architectures.

Why Join Obruta?

• Mission Impact: You will build the software interface that operators around the world use to monitor autonomous spacecraft rendezvous and docking.
• High Technical Ownership: Lead the evolution of our ground software product from open-source framework integration into a commercial-grade mission control product.
• Collaborative Culture: Work with a multidisciplinary team spanning orbital mechanics, robotics, embedded systems, and deep-learning computer vision.

Additional Position and Application Info

This posting is for an existing vacancy. Thank you to all who apply. Candidates who are successfully selected for an interview will be notified by email.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, even if they don't check every single box. We recognize the impact of imposter syndrome and value practical capability, initiative, and drive.

If the posted salary range, work location, or anything else does not exactly align with your expectations, please let us know. We'd hate to miss out on the opportunity of working together without a discussion first.

Equity

We are 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.

Accommodation

If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail] , and we will work with you to meet your needs.