Software and Satellite Operations Quality Assurance Engineer

spire; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NYSP

Launch attendance

Generous time off

Education assistance

EAP

ESPP

Family leave

Snacks & beverages

Job summary

Spire Global seeks a Software Quality Engineer to own QA activities across the development lifecycle and provide quality oversight for satellite operations during commissioning, anomalies, and routine missions. The role blends software process discipline with on-orbit operational insight, with AI/ML tool integration as the fleet modernizes.

You will collaborate with software, systems, and spacecraft teams to ensure on-orbit software and satellites perform as intended, with deviations properly

Qualifications

• 3+ years in a software QA, systems engineering, or mission assurance role in a regulated industry.
• Proven track record in investigations and fault finding of complex systems.
• Familiar with version control and issue tracking tooling.
• Understanding of software development lifecycles and QA activities.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain software QA processes, standards, and acceptance criteria for onboard and ground software across the full lifecycle.
• Ensure software verification and validation activities are comprehensive and correctly executed.
• Ensure the Software Development Lifecycle meets applicable quality requirements and standards.
• Manage deviations from defined processes safely and in a controlled manner.
• Raise, track, and manage non-conformances with corrective and preventive actions.
• Identify and communicate risks to the project and management.
• Maintain the software configuration baseline throughout development and mission lifetimes.
• Ensure software releases are reviewed and compliant to standards.
• Contribute to process improvement and ensure standards compliance (ISO 29110, ECSS-Q-ST-80, ECSS-E-ST-40).
• Provide Mission Assurance support to satellite operations during critical phases (Checkout, Commissioning, In-Orbit Verification).
• Lead anomaly investigations, root cause analyses, and failure review boards with documented findings.
• Coordinate cross-team responses to anomalies and capture lessons learned for development teams.

Skills

Software QA

Systems engineering

Mission assurance

Anomaly investigation

Git

QA lifecycle

Education

BSc / MEng in aerospace, computer science or systems engineering

Tools

Git

Issue tracking tools

Job description

WhatYou’llDo as Software &Satellite OperationsQuality Engineer:

We areseekinga skilled and motivated Software Quality Engineer to join our Mission Assurance team. This role sits at the intersection where software quality meets in-orbit operations, offering the opportunity to drive the operational performance of a satellite constellation. The role has twofacets, you will own software quality assurance activities across the development lifecycleand also provide quality oversight to the team operating our constellation of satellites during commissioning, operations, and anomaly response. As the company implements its development roadmap, the distinction between these two aspects will blur with satellite operations increasingly transitioning to automated AI/ML tools to manage the fleet.

The ideal candidate combines a rigorous, process-driven approach to software quality with an analytical mindset and operational awareness to allow them to ensure on-orbit anomalies are investigated and resolved effectively.

This is a broad remit, sopreviousexperience in both areas is notrequired. For example,a strong software QA background in a demanding industry (e.g. banking, medical, defence) willlikely alsohave developed the analytical mindset needed to investigate on orbit issues. You will work closely with a fantastic team of software engineers, systems engineers, technical experts and spacecraft operators to ensure that our software and satellites are fit for purpose and that deviations from expected behaviour are understood, reported, assessed, and resolved with sound engineering judgment.

Software Quality Assurance (Primary Focus):

• Define andmaintainsoftware QA processes, standards, and acceptance criteria for onboard and ground segment software across the full development lifecycle.
• Ensure that software verification and validation activities are comprehensive and correctly executed.
• Ensure the Software Development Lifecycle meets applicable quality requirements and standards.
• Where situations require deviation from defined process, ensure that this is performed safely and in a controlled manner.
• Raise, track, and manage non-conformances, ensuring corrective and preventive actions areidentifiedand implemented effectively.
• Ensure risks areidentified,evaluatedand communicated effectively to the project and management team.
• Ensure thatthe software configuration baselineismaintainedthroughout development and mission lifetimes.
• Confirm all software releases are reviewed and compliant to standards.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives and ensure compliance with applicable standards (e.g.ISO 29110, ECSS-Q-ST-80, ECSS-E-ST-40, orequivalent).

Satellite Operations (SatOps) Anomaly Support:

• Provide Mission Assurance support to satellite operations, especially during critical mission phases such as Checkout and Commissioning, In-OrbitVerificationand anomaly response.
• Lead and contribute to anomaly investigations, root cause analyses, and failure review boards, ensuring findings are well-documented and lessons are captured.
• Ensure the mission impact of anomalies isassessedand operational workarounds, corrective actions and recovery steps areappropriate.
• Identifylinks between incidents and coordinate response to common anomalies across the fleet.
• Ensure lessons learned are fed back to satellite development teams using non-conformance and corrective action processes.
• Liaise with software development, systems engineering and satellite operations teams to continually improve satellite operations tooling, improving Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery (FDIR), increasing automation and raising the availability of the satellite fleet through transition to AI/ML based systems.
• Serve as the mission assurance interface to the operations team, software engineers, and systems engineers during anomaly investigations and resolution.

Basic Qualifications:

• BSc or MEng in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in a software QA, systems engineering, or mission assurance role within a highly regulated industry (e.g. aerospace, defence, banking, medical).
• Proventrack recordof contributing to investigations and fault finding of complex systems.
• Familiarity with version control systems (e.g. Git) and issue tracking tools.
• Understanding of software development lifecycles (Agile and/or waterfall) and associated QA activities.
• Clear and concise communicator, able to present technical findings to diverse audiences including management and non-specialist stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with FMEA, FDIR, hazard analysis, or other dependability and safety analysis methods.
• Experience with satellite operations or ground segment software in an operational environment.
• Experience supporting LEOP, commissioning, or in-orbit validation activities.
• Proficiencyin scripting or data analysis for telemetry analysis.
• Background in configuration management in a regulated engineering environment.
• Experience with failure review boards or anomaly resolution in an operational setting.
• Knowledge of relevant standards such asISO 29110, ECSS-Q-ST-80, ECSS-E-ST-40, or DO-178C.

Spire operates a hybrid work model, and this position will require you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Access to US export-controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Spire will arrange the necessary licenses—this is not something candidates need to have before applying.

Global Perks

• Name Your Satellite Program (NYSP)
• Launch Attendance
• Generous Time Off Policy
• Education Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
• Family Leave
• Fitness Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• Healthy snacks & beverages in every office

About Spire

We improve life on Earth with data from space.

Spire Global is a space-to-cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi-purpose constellation of satellites. Its proprietary data and algorithms provide the most advanced maritime, aviation, and weather tracking in the world. In addition to its constellation, Spire’s data infrastructure includes a global ground station network and 24/7 operations that provide real-time global coverage of every point on Earth.

Spire is Global and our success draws upon the diverse viewpoints, skills and experiences of our employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.

To help maintain a safe and secure workplace for Spire employees, all candidates who receive a conditional offer will be required to complete a background check. This may include criminal history and employment verification.

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