Senior Software Engineer – Full Stack

SWISSto12 SA; Northern, Foster City (KY, CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SWISSto12 SA seeks a senior software engineer to lead full-stack development for aerospace programs, including ground systems and mission-support tools.

You’ll design scalable backend services in Python with Flask, build rich Angular/TypeScript frontends, and collaborate with spacecraft, payload, and ground teams to deliver reliable software across mission phases. This role requires 7+ years of experience, strong DevOps, and security-by-design practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of professional software development experience, including production apps.
• Strong backend development in Python with Flask or similar frameworks.
• Strong frontend experience with Angular/TypeScript-based web app development.
• Experience with PostgreSQL: schema design, SQL optimization, transactions, indexing, migrations.
• Deep understanding of software architecture, design patterns, modularity, and maintainable full-stack design.
• Hands-on DevOps with CI/CD pipelines, source control, and automated deployment.
• Experience with infrastructure-aware development and production support.
• Strong understanding of web app security principles and secure API practices.
• Automated testing across unit, functional, integration, end-to-end.
• Ground operations familiarity: mission planning, telemetry, dashboards.
• Domain knowledge of satellite operations: TT&C, payload ops, mission planning, coordination.
• Translating operational needs into robust software for ground segment users.
• Excellent English communication; French a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and implementation of full-stack applications across programs (backend, frontend, database).
• Contribute to system architecture decisions: modularization, service decomposition, trade-offs.
• Participate in full SDLC from requirements to deployment and support.
• Promote engineering best practices for testing, logging, documentation, reviews, and traceability.
• Define and improve CI/CD pipelines, automated build/test/deploy, release gates.
• Build product-quality UIs for engineering workflows and telemetry-oriented interfaces.
• Develop and evolve ground operations tools for mission readiness and operator workflows.
• Collaborate with spacecraft, payload, AIT, and ground teams to translate concepts into software features.
• Mentor engineers through reviews and technical coaching; drive long-term standards.
• Identify tech debt and propose improvements for sustainable software.

Skills

Python backend

Angular/TypeScript

REST APIs

Software architecture

Security by design

Automated testing

DevOps

CI/CD pipelines

Ground operations knowledge

Telemetry monitoring

English communication

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Software Eng

Tools

Flask

Angular

PostgreSQL

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Job description

SWISSto12 is one of the world’s fastest-growing aerospace companies, evolving from its pioneering use of 3D printing technologies for high-performance Radio Frequency (RF) products and applications to recently announcing the manufacture of entire geostationary telecom satellites, called HummingSat, that define a new category in space.

HummingSat is the world’s first commercial telecom GEO SmallSat developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA). Its uniquely compact size combined with highly capable telecom payloads allows telecommunications operators to deploy a cost-efficient, compact, and agile asset without sacrificing performance or security. HummingSat has been selected by Intelsat to build the I-45 satellite, by Inmarsat to build three I-8 satellites, and recently by Astrum Mobile to build the NEASTAR-1 satellite.

SWISSto12 is also a leading provider of Radio-Frequency (RF) products and sub-systems for satellite communication and remote sensing applications. The company’s patented 3D printing technologies and associated product designs are unique to deliver lightweight, compact, highly performing, and competitive RF products.

Job requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 7+ years of professional software development experience, including experience building, deploying, and maintaining production applications
• Strong backend development experience in Python, including building web services and APIs with Flask or similar frameworks
• Strong frontend experience with Angular/TypeScript-based web application development.
• Experience with PostgreSQL, including schema design, SQL optimization, transactions, indexing, and migration practices
• Deep understanding of software architecture, design patterns, modularity, and maintainable full-stack system design
• Hands-on experience with DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, source control workflows, and automated deployment processes
• Experience with infrastructure-aware development, including environment configuration, deployment considerations, service monitoring, and production support
• Strong understanding of application security principles for web applications and APIs
• Experience with automated testing at multiple levels (unit, functional, integration, end-to-end)
• Familiarity with ground operations tools and workflows, including mission planning, command preparation, telemetry monitoring, anomaly investigation, and operator-facing dashboards
• Domain knowledge of satellite operations concepts including TT&C, payload operations, mission planning, contact scheduling, and coordination between spacecraft, payload, and ground segment teams
• Experience translating operational needs into robust software features for ground segment users, with attention to availability, traceability, configuration control, and supportability across mission phases
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. French is a plus!

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Experience in regulated, mission-critical, or high-reliability environments
• Spacecraft database management, including command dictionaries, telemetry definitions, packet structures, limits, calibration data, engineering parameters, and lifecycle configuration data
• Experience developing engineering software that supports spacecraft development workflows across systems, AIT, and operations preparation
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop integration and real-time simulation platforms (e.g. Speedgoat)

Soft Skills

• Strong ownership mentality and end-to-end accountability
• Big picture thinking: understands how software choices affect the wider product, user workflows, and mission success
• Resilient, resourceful, and comfortable navigating evolving requirements
• Mentor-like attitude with a desire to strengthen the broader team
• Clear communication and documentation of technical decisions, risks, and trade-offs

Job responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of full-stack applications across several programs, covering backend services, frontend applications, and database architecture
• Contribute to system architecture decisions, including modularization, service decomposition, integration patterns, and technology trade-offs
• Participate in the full SDLC: requirements analysis, solution design, implementation, peer reviews, testing, deployment, production support, and continuous improvement
• Implement and promote engineering best practices for testing, logging, documentation, code review, traceability, and maintainability
• Define and improve CI/CD pipelines, automated build/test/deploy workflows, release readiness, and deployment quality gates
• Build product-quality user interfaces for engineering workflows, including simulator-facing and command/telemetry-oriented interfaces where applicable
• Develop and evolve ground operations tools, supporting mission readiness, command preparation, telemetry monitoring, anomaly investigation, and operator workflows
• Work closely with spacecraft, payload, AIT, and ground segment stakeholders to translate operational concepts into reliable, maintainable, and traceable software capabilities
• Mentor other engineers through design reviews, code reviews, technical coaching, and collaborative problem solving
• Identify technical debt, propose pragmatic improvements, and help shape engineering standards for long‑term sustainability
• Partner with infrastructure and DevOps teams to improve environments, deployment automation, observability, reliability, and operational support
• Ensure software is built with security by design, including authentication/authorization, secure secret handling, input validation, least privilege principles, and secure API practices

Further details to be shared by our recruitment team.

More about SWISSto12:SWISSto12 has successfully established contracts with Intelsat, Inmarsat, Astrum Mobile and ESA for HummingSat as well as contracts for their RF product line in Europe, and the US with prominent partners and customers such as Thales, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, SES and the ESA. SWISSto12 is a spin off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), is privately owned and backed by prominent Swiss and European Investors. SWISSto12 is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, and operates a US and European subsidiaries in Foster City California. The company is well funded for its near and mid-term developments and backed by a solid customer revenue stream.