Ground Software Engineer

K2Spacecorporation; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 123,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity in the company

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Job summary

K2Spacecorporation is looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join our Ground Software team in Los Angeles, CA. You will be responsible for creating software used to build, test, and operate our satellites. Key responsibilities include working closely with mission operations teams and external customers to develop solutions for satellite payload needs.

The ideal candidate holds a degree in computer science or similar and has experience in software engineering, particularly with Rust and modern development technologies. A rich benefits package is included.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related STEM field or 3+ years of software engineering experience.
• Experience with space missions or satellite ground segment is a plus.
• Proficiency in Rust or similar backend programming languages.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement software for satellite and payload operations.
• Collaborate with teams to scope software solutions for complex problems.
• Facilitate design reviews and code reviews.

Skills

Software engineering principles

Rust programming

TypeScript

Collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

PostgreSQL

Job description

The Role

As a Senior Software Engineer on our Ground Software team, you are responsible for creating the software that is used to build, test, and fly our satellites and customer payloads. You will build upon the mission software platform used to fly K2's Gravitas satellite, developing new capabilities and automation as we scale to support multiple constellations. You will collaborate closely with internal Mission Operations and Flight Software teams to define and implement our overall mission architecture, and you will work with external customers to scope and deliver software that meets their payload needs.

You will have the opportunity to work in exciting, interdisciplinary domains such as satellite command and control, constellation operations, mission automation, radio communications, astrodynamics, and more.

This role requires in person presence at our headquarters in Torrance, CA.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement software that facilitates the build, test, and operations of K2's vehicles and our customers' payloads
• Collaborate with Mission Operators and Engineers across the company to identify and scope software solutions to complex technical and business problems
• Facilitate software design reviews, architecture discussions, and code reviews to align stakeholders on technical direction
• Work across our stack (Rust backend, TypeScript/Vue frontend) to support development, test, and operations milestones
• Support internal and external customers in an on‑call capacity as your software is used to drive ground test activities and on‑orbit spacecraft operations
• Mentor other engineers to build a strong team culture and software engineering practices

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, math, or a STEM discipline or 3+ years of professional experience in software engineering

Nice‑to‑Have

• Experience working on space missions and/or the satellite ground segment
• Experience with Rust or another statically‑typed backend programming language (Go, C++, Java, C#, TypeScript)
• Experience with JavaScript/TypeScript and modern frontend development tooling (Vue, React, Svelte)
• Experience with version control, continuous integration, build, deployment, monitoring
• Experience developing HTTP or gRPC APIs
• Experience with SQL databases (PostgreSQL or similar)
• Experience designing and implementing event‑driven architectures
• Experience developing reliable, scalable systems
• Experience with Docker and/or Kubernetes
• Experience with WebSockets and/or Server‑Sent‑Events (SSE)
• Familiarity with cybersecurity best practices and relevant certifications/standards (SOC2, FedRAMP)
• Familiarity with networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, QUIC)
• Familiarity with data streaming technologies such as NATS, Pulsar, or similar

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range for this role is $123,000 - $150,000 + equity in the company
• Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non‑traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.