Automation Engineer

Azora; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous equity

Competitive healthcare

401(k)

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Azora is seeking a lead automation engineer to build the automation backbone for its optical ground stations. You will own autonomous pass scheduling, calibration routines, health monitoring, and fault recovery across a growing global network.

You will define the automation architecture and lead a small team of engineers. The role requires a strong background in Python and systems languages, hardware interfaces, and delivering reliable, 24/7 automation.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical/Mechatronics Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years building automation or control software for physical systems.
• Strong programming skills in Python and at least one systems language (C++, Rust, or Go).
• Experience with hardware interfaces and protocols: serial, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, CAN.
• Proven track record delivering automation systems to 24/7 operation.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement end-to-end automation for ground station operations: target acquisition, pass execution, weather-driven decision-making, and safe-state recovery.
• Develop hardware control software for telescopes, gimbals, weather sensors, and optical bench instrumentation.
• Build automated calibration, self-test, and BIT routines to keep stations operational without on-site staff.
• Design monitoring, alerting, and remote diagnostics infrastructure across distributed sites.
• Define interfaces between site-level automation and the network-level scheduler/orchestration layer.
• Establish software engineering practices for CI/CD, hardware-in-the-loop testing, simulation environments, and release management.
• Build, lead and mentor a small team of automation and controls engineers as the ground network scales.

Skills

Python

Systems languages

Hardware interfaces

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical/Mechatronics Engineering

Tools

Git

CI/CD

RTOS

Job description

Role

Build the automation backbone that enables Azora's optical ground stations to operate independently: autonomous pass scheduling, calibration routines, health monitoring, and fault recovery. As a lead, you will define the automation architecture across a growing global network of ground sites.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement end-to-end automation for ground station operations: target acquisition, pass execution, weather-driven decision-making, and safe-state recovery.


• Develop hardware control software for telescopes, gimbals, weather sensors, and optical bench instrumentation (motion controllers, cameras, power systems).


• Build automated calibration, self-test, and built-in-test (BIT) routines that keep stations operational without on-site staff.


• Design monitoring, alerting, and remote diagnostics infrastructure across multiple geographically distributed sites.


• Define interfaces between site-level automation and the network-level scheduler/orchestration layer.


• Establish software engineering practices for the automation stack: CI/CD, hardware-in-the-loop testing, simulation environments, and release management.


• Build, lead and mentor a small team of automation and controls engineers as the ground network scales.

Required Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical/Mechatronics Engineering, or related field.


• 5+ years building automation or control software for physical systems (robotics, observatories, test automation, industrial control, or similar).


• Strong programming skills in Python and at least one systems language (C++, Rust, or Go).


• Experience with hardware interfaces and protocols: serial, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, CAN, or similar.


• Demonstrated experience taking automation systems from prototype to reliable 24/7 operation.

Preferred

• Experience automating telescopes, observatories, or optical ground stations (e.g., INDI/ASCOM ecosystems, custom mount control).


• Familiarity with orbital mechanics and satellite pass prediction (e.g., SGP4, Skyfield).


• Experience with distributed systems, message buses (MQTT, ZeroMQ, gRPC), and time synchronization (NTP/PTP).


• Prior technical leadership or team lead experience in a startup environment.

Location

This is an onsite/hybrid role based in Tempe, AZ or the Bay Area, CA – hardware work that’s hard to do remotely. Some travel expected for field deployment and vendor/manufacturing visits.

Benefits

• Generous equity


• Competitive healthcare (including options for vision and dental)


• 401(k)


• Unlimited PTO

EEO & Reasonable Accommodations

Azora is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know by contacting [e-mail]

Export Control

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (iii) protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or (iv) be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Salary ranges are based on the following criteria:

• Level 1 (starting from $130,000 USD): 3-5 years of experience in relevant roles.


• Level 2 (starting from $160,000 USD): 5-15 years of experience in relevant roles.


• Final salary is based on geographic location, experience, skills, and qualifications.

About this Company

Azora is building high-bandwidth communications infrastructure for environments where fiber can’t reach. This work spans LEO spacecraft constellations, lunar exploration missions, GEO satcom, deployable optical ground for defense, and data centers both on- and off-world. To enable rapid global proliferation Azora is developing compact and modular optical terminals small enough to deploy from a backpack, and space terminals that support high speed optical links from LEO out to the Moon.