Senior Software Engineer

HawkEye 360; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

HawkEye 360 in Herndon, Virginia is seeking a Senior Command & Control Software Engineer to join the Space Ground Systems Team. This role involves designing, developing, and maintaining software for operational requirements, as well as contributing to architectural design decisions.

Ideal candidates will have over 5 years of software engineering experience, particularly in command and control systems, and proficiency in Python. A competitive salary range of $130,000–$180,000 USD is offered based on experience and qualifications.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering.
• 3+ years focused on command and control systems or similar domains.
• Proficiency in Python.
• Experience in building automated mission-critical applications.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain command and control software applications.
• Implement solutions for real-time data processing and secure communications.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand mission requirements.

Skills

Software engineering

Python proficiency

Command and control systems experience

REST API development

Asynchronous messaging expertise

Version control proficiency

Real-time software systems experience

Strong communication skills

Education

5+ years of software engineering experience

3+ years in command and control systems

Tools

FastAPI

Spring Boot

Apache Kafka

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

HawkEye 360 is currently seeking a Senior Command & Control Software Engineer to join the Space Ground Systems Team. The mission of the Ground Systems Team is to provide the tooling to operate and maintain a growing constellation of small commercial satellites. This group is also responsible for building and operating a segment of groundstations to provide communications with these satellites. Satellite clusters and ground segments provide the platform for RF data collection that is essential to HawkEye 360's core business.

HawkEye 360 is looking for a candidate with good technical leadership and problem-solving skills, who is creative and has a passion for working with and developing new innovative technology.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Design, develop, and maintain command and control software applications that meet operational requirements.
• Implement solutions for real-time data processing, secure communications, and system integration.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand mission requirements and translate them into software solutions.
• Perform software testing, debugging, and troubleshooting to ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Contribute to architectural design and decisions, ensuring the software aligns with long‑term goals.

Your skills and qualifications:

Essential education and experience:

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering.
• 3+ years focused on command and control systems or similar domains.
• Proficiency in Python.
• Experience building automated mission‑critical applications and supporting remote hardware.
• Experience building REST API's using frameworks like FastAPI or Spring Boot.
• Experience with asynchronous messaging like Apache Kafka.
• Proficiency with modern version control.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders.
• Strong experience with real‑time software systems, distributed architectures, and high‑availability systems.
• A good attitude and team‑oriented spirit in addition to detail oriented planning and problem solving.

Desirable:

• Experience in other programming languages such as C++ and Java.
• Experience with Ansible, Docker, and Kubernetes.
• Knowledge of Transport and Application layer protocols; UDP, TCP, FTP…
• Experience in a fast‑paced, small company where priorities can change rapidly.
• Familiarity with simulation and modeling tools used for C2 system testing and validation.
• Dedication – sometimes we all need to burn a little midnight oil to get the job done.

We offer a compensation package that includes a competitive base salary plus annual performance bonus and benefits. We consider many factors when determining salary offers, such as candidate's work experience, education, training & skills, as well as market and business considerations. We are also open to considering candidates with experience and qualifications at a different level than required in a job posting, which may affect the compensation package offered.

Salary Range

$130,000—$180,000 USD

Company Overview:

HawkEye 360 is equipping defense, intelligence, and national security leaders with mission‑critical signals intelligence to enable faster, better decision making. By detecting, geolocating, and characterizing radio frequency emissions worldwide, HawkEye 360 delivers trusted domain awareness and early warning indicators to the US Government and allied partners. Our space-based collection, proprietary signal processing, and AI‑powered analytics transform knowledge of RF spectrum into a strategic advantage. Proven by operational mission success, HawkEye 360 is redefining how signals intelligence strengthens national and global security.

HawkEye 360 is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.