Software Architect

Sceye; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Chef-Prepared Lunches

Snacks & Refreshments

Wellness Perks

Dog-Friendly Environment

401(k) with Match

High-Performance Culture

Job summary

Sceye is seeking an experienced Software Architect to define and evolve the software architecture powering our stratospheric High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) fleet. This role owns the technical vision across avionics, ground systems, mission operations, and data platforms, ensuring scalable, reliable software for a rapidly growing fleet.

You will collaborate with engineering leadership and cross-functional teams to translate mission requirements into robust, long‑lived architecture, mentor

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• 3+ years in an architect or senior technical leadership role.
• Experience designing large-scale distributed real-time or safety-critical systems.
• Deep expertise in at least one backend language (Python/Go/C++/Java) and familiarity with others.
• Strong understanding of cloud infrastructure and microservices.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain the overall software architecture across flight, ground, and mission systems.
• Set technical direction and coding standards for distributed teams across avionics, backend, and data services.
• Evaluate technologies, frameworks, and patterns to support scalability and reliability.
• Lead architecture reviews and design documentation for major new systems and features.
• Partner with Product, Systems Engineering, and Flight Operations to translate requirements into software design.
• Design fault-tolerant, real-time systems for command and control of remote, high-altitude vehicles.
• Guide API design, service boundaries, and data models across the stack.
• Mentor senior staff on architectural best practices and long-term system health.
• Drive build-vs-buy and cloud vs edge computing decisions; identify technical debt.
• Participate in incident reviews and drive architectural remediation.
• Ensure architecture decisions address cybersecurity, data integrity, and regulatory considerations.

Skills

Software architecture

Distributed systems

Cloud computing

Leadership

Real-time systems

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's preferred

Tools

Kafka

MQTT

RabbitMQ

Kubernetes

Terraform

Pulumi

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

Job Description

Software Architect

Status: Full Time

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA / Moriarty, NM

Reports To: Chief Technology Officer

Who Are We

Sceye is a high-growth technology company, building the next generation of instant communications, imaging and remote sensing infrastructure through stratospheric platforms. Our lighter-than-air high-altitude platform systems (LTA HAPS) are capable of maintaining position over an operational area in the stratosphere (altitudes of 18–21km). They can carry multiple telecommunications, imaging and remote sensing payloads, providing unique functionality, cost, environmental and societal advantages. Our customers & partners include some of the largest global telecommunications companies, infrastructure operators, climate researchers, civil and defense agencies. At Sceye, we aim high, and we want you to join us at the stratospheric edge of innovation. As part of our mission-driven team, you'll contribute to building breakthrough technologies that are changing the way we connect and observe the world. We are looking for individuals who bring not only deep expertise but also bold vision and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Position Summary

Sceye is seeking an experienced Software Architect to define and evolve the software architecture powering our stratospheric High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) fleet. This role owns the technical vision across avionics, ground systems, mission operations, and data platforms, ensuring our software is scalable, reliable, and ready to support a rapidly growing fleet of stratospheric airships. You will work directly with engineering leadership and cross-functional teams to translate mission requirements into robust, long-lived architecture.

What You’ll Do

• Define and maintain the overall software architecture across flight, ground, and mission systems.
• Set technical direction and coding standards for distributed teams working across avionics, backend, and data services.
• Evaluate and select technologies, frameworks, and infrastructure patterns to support scalability and reliability.
• Lead architecture reviews and design documentation for major new systems and features.
• Partner with Product, Systems Engineering, and Flight Operations to translate mission and safety requirements into software design.
• Design fault-tolerant, real-time systems suitable for command and control of remote, high-altitude vehicles.
• Guide API design, service boundaries, and data models across the software stack.
• Mentor senior and staff engineers on architectural best practices and long-term system health.
• Drive decisions on build-vs-buy, cloud infrastructure, and on-prem/edge computing tradeoffs.
• Identify technical debt and lead initiatives to modernize legacy systems without disrupting flight operations.
• Participate in incident reviews for mission-critical systems and drive architectural remediation.
• Ensure architecture decisions account for cybersecurity, data integrity, and regulatory considerations.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of professional software engineering experience, including 3+ years in an architect or senior technical leadership role.
• Proven track record designing large-scale, distributed, real-time, or safety-critical systems.
• Deep expertise in at least one modern backend language (e.g., Python, Go, C++, Java) and familiarity with several others.
• Strong understanding of cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, or GCP), containerization, and microservices architecture.
• Experience with real-time or near-real-time telemetry, command-and-control, or IoT-style systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain architecture tradeoffs to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to lead architecture across multiple teams and drive alignment among engineers and stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, satellite, telecommunications, or other mission-critical industries.
• Familiarity with avionics software standards (e.g., DO-178C) or similar safety-critical software practices.
• Experience with event-driven architectures, message queues (Kafka, MQTT, RabbitMQ), and time-series databases.
• Background in systems supporting remote or autonomous vehicles (satellites, UAS, HAPS).
• Experience with Kubernetes and infrastructure-as-code tooling (Terraform, Pulumi).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong systems-thinking skills with the ability to balance short-term delivery against long-term architectural health.
• Ability to influence without direct authority across multiple engineering teams.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity within a fast-paced, mission-driven startup environment.
• Strong documentation habits and ability to produce clear architecture diagrams and decision records.
• Collaborative mindset with a passion for mentoring engineers at all levels.

Physical Requirements

• Primarily an office/remote-hybrid role with occasional visits to test and operations facilities.
• Occasional travel to Sceye's Moriarty, NM operations site required.
• Ability to walk through office, hangar, and production facilities during site visits.

What We Offer

At Sceye, we're building more than high-altitude platforms—we're building a workplace where people (and their pups) thrive. Here's what you'll enjoy:

• Chef-Prepared Lunches – Fresh, onsite meals to keep you fueled and focused.
• Snacks & Refreshments – Enjoy a variety of snacks and drinks available throughout the day.
• Wellness Perks – Access to a gym, pickleball court, and an outdoor dog kennel.
• Dog-Friendly Environment – Bring your four-legged friends to work and enjoy a pet-welcoming space.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage – Medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, with over 82% of premiums covered—and 100% for everything else.
• 401(k) with Match – Company contributions that are yours from day one.
• High-Performance Culture – Join a collaborative, inclusive environment where your work helps shape the future of aerospace.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Sceye is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, especially those who bring unique perspectives and experiences that can help us grow and innovate. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact us—we're happy to assist.