Senior Software Engineer, Flight + Plan

Socket.dev; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Health insurance

401(k) match

Annual offsite

Job summary

Quindar is seeking a Senior Software Engineer on the Flight + Plan team to lead design and development of mission-planning systems for real-world spacecraft operations, focusing on optimization, scheduling, automation, and high-performance backends.

You will mainly use Python to build reliable systems that handle large search spaces, scale from single spacecraft to constellations, and collaborate with engineers, operators, and product leaders to deliver robust production solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in CS, Applied Math, OR or related field.
• 6+ years of backend software experience with distributed systems.
• Proven ability to take concepts to production deployment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of mission-planning, scheduling, optimization, and operational-automation systems
• Develop and validate algorithms for complex planning and resource allocation across large spaces
• Build high-performance APIs and distributed services for low-latency workloads
• Improve scalability, reliability, observability, and readiness of mission-critical systems
• Collaborate with software, program, product, and operations to translate requirements into production solutions
• Mentor engineers and drive automation and AI-assisted practices to improve velocity and quality

Skills

Python

Backend systems

Optimization

Algorithms & data structures

APIs & distributed systems

CI/CD & testing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/Applied Math/OR

Job description

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Senior Software Engineer on Quindar’s Flight + Plan team, you will lead the design and development of mission-planning systems that support real-world spacecraft operations. Your work will focus on optimization, scheduling, operational automation, and high-performance backend services across Quindar’s platform.

You’ll work primarily in Python to build reliable production systems that solve computationally demanding planning problems. These systems must process large search spaces, respond with low latency, and scale from individual spacecraft to large satellite constellations. You’ll develop and validate algorithms, design distributed services, and improve the performance and operational resilience of mission-critical workflows.

This role sits at the intersection of optimization, backend software engineering, and space operations. You’ll collaborate closely with software engineers, flight dynamics engineers, satellite operators, frontend engineers, and product leaders to turn complex operational requirements into maintainable and scalable software.

We’re looking for an engineer who combines strong software fundamentals with mathematical problem-solving skills and sound engineering judgment. You should be comfortable taking ownership of ambiguous technical problems, evaluating tradeoffs, and carrying solutions from initial design through production operation.

Quindar encourages engineers to seek leverage through automation and AI-assisted development. We use modern engineering tools to accelerate implementation, deepen validation, improve debugging, and reduce operational friction while maintaining a high standard for correctness and reliability.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the design and implementation of mission-planning, scheduling, optimization, and operational-automation systems
• Develop and validate algorithms that solve complex planning and resource-allocation problems across large solution spaces
• Build high-performance APIs and distributed services for low-latency and compute-intensive workloads
• Improve the scalability, reliability, observability, and operational readiness of mission-critical systems
• Collaborate across software, program, product, and operations to turn complex requirements into robust production solutions
• Help shape technical direction, mentor other engineers, and use automation and AI-assisted practices to improve engineering velocity and quality

Required Technical Skills

• Strong proficiency in Python and deep experience designing, building, and operating production backend systems
• Experience developing high-performance software for low-latency, compute-intensive, or data-intensive workloads
• Applied experience with optimization, scheduling, search, planning, or resource allocation, using techniques such as constraint programming, mixed-integer programming, vehicle routing, heuristics, or other operations-research methods
• Strong knowledge of algorithms, data structures, computational complexity, performance analysis, and system profiling
• Experience designing and troubleshooting APIs, distributed systems, relational databases, and containerized cloud applications
• Strong software-engineering fundamentals, including architecture, testing, CI/CD, observability, and modern Git-based workflows

What Makes You Stand Out

• You have experience with flight dynamics, orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, spacecraft operations, or aerospace modeling and simulation
• You can translate ambiguous operational needs into well-defined planning, optimization, and software problems
• You have hands-on experience with cislunar mission design, trajectory planning, or operations in the Earth-Moon system
• You evaluate algorithmic approaches based on solution quality, runtime, scalability, reliability, and operational constraints
• You balance long-term architectural thinking with pragmatic, iterative delivery and communicate clearly across disciplines
• You naturally take ownership, mentor others, use automation and AI thoughtfully, and help raise the technical bar for the team

Background Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Operations Research, or a related technical field—or equivalent practical experience
• 6+ years of professional software-engineering experience involving backend systems, distributed systems, optimization, planning, modeling and simulation, or related technical domains
• Demonstrated experience independently driving complex software from concept and technical design through production deployment and operation
• Active U.S. Secret security clearance, with the ability to maintain it throughout employment

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a: (i) U.S. citizen or national; (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident, also known as a green card holder; (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157; or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158—or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Learn more about ITAR here.

Why You’ll Love Working at Quindar

• Work on cutting-edge technology and see your contributions directly support the success of real-world space missions!
• Make a meaningful impact as part of a small, collaborative team where your ideas, expertise, and leadership truly matter.
• Enjoy unlimited PTO, a minimum of 15 days off each year, and most U.S. federal holidays—we take work-life balance seriously!
• Take care of yourself and your family with quarterly health and wellness benefits, comprehensive health insurance, and 100% employee coverage.
• Invest in your future with a 4% 401(k) match, and connect with the team at our annual four-day company offsite in destinations across the country!
• Help shape what comes next at Quindar as our technology, culture, and company continue to evolve!