Backend Engineer - Oort

Loftorbital; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company-paid medical, dental, and

vision insurance option

401(k) and equity options

Daily catered lunches

Relocation assistance when applicable

International exposure to our team in/

Job summary

Loft Orbital in San Francisco is seeking a Backend Engineer to join the Oort team. You will design, build, and operate backend services that ingest and surface critical mission lifecycle data, and implement APIs to connect tooling and data across teams.

You’ll work with Python, Docker, Django, GraphQL, and modern cloud platforms to deliver scalable solutions with a product-minded approach. Fluency in English and collaboration across engineering, operations, and business units are essential.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in Python for backend engineering.
• Experience designing and building APIs and robust database interactions.
• Familiarity with Django and GraphQL.
• Experience with containerization (Docker) and cloud platforms (GCP/AWS).
• Strong knowledge of testing tools (PyTest/Jest/RTL/Playwright/Cypress) and CI/CD practices.

Responsibilities

• Build and operate features across backend services handling mission lifecycle data.
• Design and implement APIs and integrations across teams and systems.
• Collaborate with program management, satellite engineering, operations, and business stakeholders to translate requirements into software.
• Apply a product mindset to reduce complexity for teams building and operating space infrastructure.

Skills

Python

Docker

API design

Database interaction

Django

GraphQL

GCP/AWS

Kubernetes

PyTest

Jest

React Testing Library

Playwright/Cypress

English

Tools

Docker

CI/CD

Job description

Wanna join the adventure?

Loft Orbital is looking for a Backend Engineer to join our Oort team. Oort is our central web platform—a unified environment that consolidates all infrastructure data and tools, empowering Loft to streamline, integrate, and manage the entire mission lifecycle with unprecedented efficiency and transparency. Oort bridges the gap between diverse mission phases, operational teams, and business processes by centralizing essential information and workflows, establishing a standard for space mission execution at scale.

Responsibilities

• Build, and operate features across backend services that collect, manage, and surface critical infrastructure data for the full Loft mission lifecycle.
• Design and implement APIs and integrations that connect tooling and data across teams and systems.
• Partner with program management, satellite engineering, operations, and business stakeholders to analyze and understand mission design, program, and business processes—and translate them into intuitive, reliable software.
• Apply a product mindset across the stack: seek user feedback, identify friction in both backend workflows and UI/UX, and deliver solutions that meaningfully reduce complexity for the people and teams building and operating space infrastructure.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated proficiency in Python for backend engineering.
• Practical experience using Docker for containerization and deployment in scalable environments.
• Experience in backend architecture, encompassing API design and robust database interactions.
• You have hands‑on experience building, operating, or integrating technologies for space missions and a passion for making complex, multi‑team technical endeavors more efficient and standardized.
• You thrive on dissecting intricate business and technical processes, mapping them end‑to‑end—highlighting friction points and opportunities for unique solutions.
• You excel in team environments, communicate complex ideas with clarity, and advocate for seamless collaboration between engineering, operations, and business functions.
• You are a proactive problem solver and a respectful challenger of assumptions, comfortable owning features from design through production operations.
• Fluency in English.

Additional Experience

• Experience in the design, modeling, or analysis of space missions, with an understanding of mission lifecycle complexities.
• Proficiency with Django and GraphQL, and familiarity with modern cloud infrastructure platforms (e.g., GCP/AWS, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with testing tools across the stack (e.g., PyTest, Jest, React Testing Library, Playwright/Cypress) and strong CI/CD practices.

Benefits

• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance option for employees and dependents
• Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) Accounts offered with an employer contribution to the HSA
• 100% employer paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability insurance
• Flexible Time Off policy for vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
• 401(k) plan and equity options
• Daily catered lunches and snacks in office
• International exposure to our team in France
• Fully paid parental leave; 14 weeks for birthing parent and 10 weeks for non‑birthing parent
• Carrot Fertility provides comprehensive, inclusive fertility healthcare and family‑forming benefits with financial support
• Off‑sites and many social events and celebrations
• Relocation assistance when applicable

Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other underrepresented people tend to only apply when they meet 100% of the qualifications. At Loft, we value respectful debate and people who aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions. We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t check all the boxes.