CCSDS Telemetry Ground Software Engineer

Northwood Space; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space is seeking a Ground Software Engineer to develop software for ingesting, processing, and routing telemetry, tracking, and command data across our satellite ground network.

You will implement CCSDS protocols, build high-performance data pipelines, and work with DSP/FPGA teams to integrate hardware and software. The role emphasizes production ownership and end-to-end delivery of mission-critical systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 2–5+ years or Master's with 1–4+ years in CS/EE/telecommunications.
• Strong programming skills in Rust, C++, or Go.
• Experience developing software for networking, real-time data processing, or distributed systems.
• Solid understanding of network protocols, binary data formats, serialization, buffering, and asynchronous data processing.
• Experience owning a production software system from design to deployment.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain software for ingesting, processing, and routing telemetry, tracking, and command data.
• Implement and validate CCSDS protocols and space packet handling.
• Develop high-performance data pipelines connecting radios, ground-station infrastructure, and customer endpoints.
• Build tooling for packet parsing, frame validation, buffering, recording, replay, monitoring, and debugging.
• Translate mission requirements into configurable data-handling workflows.
• Collaborate with DSP/FPGA engineers to define interfaces between hardware and software.
• Test workflows using simulated, hardware-in-the-loop, and live satellite data.
• Own software through development, deployment, and mission support.

Skills

Rust

C++

Go

Networking

Real-time data processing

Distributed systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE/telecommunications

Master's degree in CS/EE (optional)

Tools

CCSDS standards

CCSDS File Delivery Protocol

Protocol analysis tools

Job description

Northwood Space is seeking a Ground Software Engineer to develop software for ingesting, processing, and routing telemetry, tracking, and command data across our satellite ground network.

You will implement CCSDS protocols, build high-performance data pipelines, and work with DSP/FPGA teams to integrate hardware and software. The role emphasizes production ownership and end-to-end delivery of mission-critical systems.