Senior Ground Software Engineer

E-Space

Saratoga (CA)

On-site

USD 130,000 - 200,000

Full time

14 days+

Application generator

A complete application in a minute — tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.

Get past ATS filters

Job summary

E-Space in the United States is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to join our Ground Software team. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to build mission-critical software powering our satellite constellation, developing scalable Python backends in an API-first, event-driven cloud environment.

From system design to hands-on coding, you will architect real-time pipelines, manage MQTT/Kafka messaging, and drive DevOps practices.

Qualifications

5+ years building scalable backend systems for telemetry ingestion and real-time data processing.
Experience with microservices, message queues, gRPC, and protobufs.
Expert Python with FastAPI, Pydantic, SQLAlchemy; async programming; API development.

Responsibilities

Architect and scale a Python-based Ground Data System with microservices.
Build binary protocol pipelines for CCSDS spacecraft communication.
Own messaging infrastructure; optimize MQTT broker performance.
Build high-performance APIs for command and control operations.
Create workflow orchestration for automated satellite and ground procedures.
Integrate with ground stations and cloud for scalable data ingestion.
Establish DevOps and testing standards.
Collaborate with Flight Software, Payload, and Mission Operations Teams.

Skills

Backend software engineering

Python

Microservices

Asyncio

API development

gRPC

protobufs

AWS

Kubernetes

PostgreSQL

CI/CD

Telemetry ingestion

Real-time data processing

Event-driven architecture

Education

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering/Computer Science

Tools

FastAPI

Pydantic

SQLAlchemy

InfluxDB/TimescaleDB

Kafka

MQTT

Terraform/OpenTofu

Docker

Job description

Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure and actionable? Then you’ve come to the right place!

E-Space is bridging Earth and space to enable hyper-scaled deployments of space-powered Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. We are fundamentally changing the design, economics, manufacturing, coverage limitations and service deliveryassociated with traditional satellite and terrestrial IoT systems.

By building a highly-advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system—with a unique antenna design, highly sustainable spacecraft system and low-cost, small portable end-user devices,we can extend global satellite coverage, capacity and connectivity beyond legacy space services to provide a new kind of IoT platform that lets users sense, track, connect and act on information gathered, anywhere.

We’re intentional, we’re unapologetically curious and we’re 100% committed to saving space, protecting our planet and turning connectivity into actionable intelligence.

What is the role?

E-Space is looking for a Senior Software Engineer to join our Ground Software team. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to build the mission-critical software that powers our satellite constellation operations. You will develop highly available, highly-scalable backend systems using Python in an API-first, event-driven architecture deployed in the cloud using containerized solutions.

Working on greenfield projects, you'll be responsible for the entire software development lifecycle—from system design and architecture to hands-on coding and infrastructure implementation. This role combines technical leadership with deep engineering work, making foundational decisions that will scale with our growing constellation.

What you will be doing:

Architect and scale a Python-based Ground Data Systemdesigning microservices that handle real-time command uplink, telemetry downlink, and event processing across a growing constellation
Build binary protocol pipelinesfor CCSDS-compliant spacecraft communication, including TC/TM framing, CFDP file transfers, and AES encryption/decryption
Own the messaging infrastructure to evaluate andoptimizeMQTT broker architecture, andquantify performance bottlenecks (MQTT throughput,QoS tuning,database writes, CPU-bound encoding/decoding)
Build high-performance APIs for mission-critical command and control operations
Create workflow orchestration systems for automated satellite and ground procedures
Integrate with ground station networks and cloudinfrastructure to develop scalable data ingestion and processing pipelines for high-rate satellite telemetry and command streams
Establish software engineering and DevOps best practices including code reviews, testing standards, and architectural guidelines
Collaborate cross-functionally with Flight Software, Payload, and Mission Operations Teams

What you bring to the role:

5+ years of backend software engineering experience building scalable, fault-tolerant systems for telemetry ingestion, command & control, or real-time data processing at scale
Proficiency with microservices architecture, message queues, gRPC, and protobufs
Expert Python skills with experience withmodern frameworks (FastAPI,Pydantic,SQLAlchemy), asynchronous programming(asyncio, threading),API development
Knowledge ofCCSDS protocols (TC, TM, CFDP) or willingness to learn space communication standards quickly
Time-series databases (InfluxDB,TimescaleDB, or similar at high ingest rates)
Kubernetes production experience (HPA, resource management, networking, debugging pods at scale)Experience designing and implementing event-driven architectures and workflow orchestration systems
Solid understanding of AWS services, PostgreSQL, and container-based deployment solutions
Hands-on experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and modern software development practices
Experience with message bus systems (Kafka, MQTT) and in-memory databases for real-time data processing
Knowledge of Infrastructure as Code (Terraform/OpenTofu), monitoring/observability tools, and high-availability system design
Experience with high-throughput data processing and performance optimization for mission-critical applications
Strong system design skills with ability to make architectural decisions for scalable distributed systems

Bonus Points for the following:

Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent
Experience with Kubernetes and container orchestration platforms
Knowledge of time-series databases
Background insatellite operations,mission control systems,aerospace, defense, or other mission-critical industries
Grafana/observability stack for distributed systems monitoringStrong intellectual curiosity and commitment to continuous learning
Exceptional attention to detail and an ownership mentality

Additional Requirements

This is a fast-paced, high-impact environment - flexibility to occasionally work extended hours or weekends during critical periods is expected.

We are redefining how satellites are designed, manufactured and used—so we’re looking for candidates with passion, deep knowledge and direct experience on LEO satellite component development, design and in-orbit activities. If that’s your experience – then we’ll be immediately wow-ed.

The estimated base salary range for this role is $130,000-200,000 per year. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position in question, which is based on market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on location, skills and expertise, depth of relevant experience, and other relevant factors. For questions about this, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply for the role and are selected for an interview.

Why E-Space is right for you:

We want you to make the most of your journey at E-Space. That’s why we support and invest in the physical, emotional and financial well-being of our team members and their families. Some of what you can expect when working at E-Space: