Software and Satellite Operations Quality Assurance Engineer

Spire Government; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Name Your Satellite Program (NYSP)

Launch Attendance

Education Assistance Program

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)

Family Leave

Fitness Reimbursement

Employee Referral Program

Job summary

Spire Global is seeking a Software Quality Engineer to join the Mission Assurance team. You will own software QA across the development lifecycle and provide quality oversight during satellite commissioning and operations, with evolving AI/ML tooling to manage the fleet.

The role sits in Glasgow, Scotland, with a hybrid work model requiring three days in the office weekly. You’ll collaborate with software, systems, and flight operations teams to improve reliability and safety of the satellite

Qualifications

• 3+ years in a software QA, systems engineering, or mission assurance role in a highly regulated industry

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain software QA processes, standards, and acceptance criteria across onboard and ground software.
• Ensure verification and validation activities are comprehensive and correctly executed.
• Maintain software configuration baseline throughout development and mission lifetimes.
• Coordinate anomaly investigations and root cause analyses for satellite operations.

Skills

Software QA

Root cause analysis

Communication

Regulated industries

Education

BSc or MEng in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Systems Engineering

Tools

Git

Issue tracking tools

Job description

We are seeking a 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 two facets, you will own software quality assurance activities across the development lifecycle and 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.

Location

• Glasgow
• Scotland
• United Kingdom

Department

• Engineering

What You’ll Do as Software & Satellite Operations Quality Engineer

Software Quality Assurance (Primary Focus)

• Define and maintain software 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 are identified and implemented effectively.
• Ensure risks are identified, evaluated and communicated effectively to the project and management team.
• Ensure that the software configuration baseline is maintained throughout 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, or equivalent).

Satellite Operations (SatOps) Anomaly Support

• Provide Mission Assurance support to satellite operations, especially during critical mission phases such as Checkout and Commissioning, In-Orbit Verification and 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 is assessed and operational workarounds, corrective actions and recovery steps are appropriate.
• Identify links 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).
• Proven track record of 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.
• Proficiency in 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 as ISO 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

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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