Software Engineer III

Iridium Satellite LLC; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Iridium Satellite LLC is hiring a Software Engineer III to support a Space Development Agency project in Reston, Virginia. This role focuses on the independent development, enhancement, and maintenance of software solutions for ground system operations. Ideal candidates will possess a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and have over 5 years of software programming experience, with proficiency in languages such as C, Python, and Java. Collaboration with cross-functional teams and working with innovative technologies in the space industry are key aspects of the role. This position requires in-office work at least 3 days a week under a hybrid work policy.

Qualifications

• 5+ years software programming experience.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Possess strong ownership over work tasks.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and debug software solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define requirements.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment.

Skills

Software programming experience

Proficiency in programming languages (C, C++, Python, Java)

Strong communication skills

Analytical mindset

Agile methodologies

Education

Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or other engineering discipline

Tools

Atlassian tools (Jira, Git, Confluence)

CI/CD tools

AWS cloud environments

Job description

Software Engineer III

Job Locations: US-AZ-Chandler | US-VA-Reston

Job ID: 2026-4944

Company Overview

Iridium is an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company with bragging rights to the only network that offers voice and data connectivity anywhere in the world. For over 20 years, Iridium's unique network and services have supported critical communications needs for individuals, businesses, and the evolving Internet of Things.

At Iridium, we understand the importance of staying connected and the limitations of traditional communications networks. People across the globe, including first responders, humanitarians, global militaries, scientific researchers, and lone workers, as well as ships, aircraft and remote operations all rely on Iridium to stay connected. We take our responsibility for providing these essential communications very seriously and pride ourselves on offering a reliable lifeline when needed. Likewise, Iridium is committed to providing an exciting and innovative workplace, where employees are challenged to think outside the box and collaborate on new, bold ideas and solutions. Our talented teams are passionate about their work and the impact our company makes around the world. Iridium fosters an empowering and inclusive culture that allows employees to genuinely be their best selves. We are looking for others who want to join this truly unique company that celebrates our employees and provides the opportunity to truly make a difference in the world.

What We're Looking For

If you enjoy learning about and working with breakthrough technologies, and are enthusiastic about working in the space industry, then you will be excited about the Software Engineer III opening with Iridium for a Space Development Agency (SDA) project. As a Software Engineer III, you'll independently deliver high-quality work and drive projects and deliverables to completion, including the development, enhancement, and maintenance of software solutions that support ground system operations. In this role, you will focus primarily on designing, coding, integrating, and testing software applications, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and contributing to the continuous improvement of ground software systems. You will thrive in this role if you are detail-oriented, proactive in solving complex technical challenges, and passionate about contributing to mission-critical software in the space industry.

What You'll Do

• Work independently to design, develop, implement, and debug software solutions across embedded, platform, or cloud-based environments
• Develop optimized code for both scalability and performance
• Collaborate with software, hardware, systems, security, and test engineers to define requirements and interfaces
• Participate in system architecture discussions and contribute to technical planning
• Support the development and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines and automated deployment processes
• Develop and maintain automation scripts, tools, and infrastructure configurations
• Contribute to unit, integration, and system-level testing
• Troubleshoot software, infrastructure, and performance issues and implement effective solutions
• Identify performance bottlenecks and implement optimizations
• Participate in design reviews, code inspections, and Agile ceremonies
• Develop and maintain technical documentation, specifications, and configuration standards
• Follow established software development processes and configuration management practices

What You'll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, or other engineering discipline
• 5+ years software programming experience
• Coding experience on Agile based teams
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., C, C++, Python, Java, or similar)
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and defect tracking tools
• Familiarity with modern software development practices, including Agile methodologies
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to confidently present products, deliverables, analyses, and/or issues
• Possess an analytical mindset, with the ability to understand a situation or problem and think critically to make decisions or come up with solutions
• Be comfortable managing upward, including being a proactive communicator and asking for help when needed
• Have confidence and be able to establish valuable relationships with others
• Must be able to prioritize key tasks and have a strong sense of ownership over your work
• Be active in seeking out ways to continuously improve yourself and gain new knowledge

Things That Would be Great if You Brought to the Table

• Experience with the following technologies:
  • Atlassian management/software development tools: Jira, Git, Crucible, Confluence
  • CI/CD pipelines, or infrastructure as code tools
  • Micro services architectures
  • Automated testing frameworks
  • Gov and non-Gov Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud environments

We'll also need you to:

• Work in the office at least 3 or more days a week to foster collaboration with the team and stakeholders
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance

Work Environment

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer.

We believe in person connection drives innovation, strengthens mentorship, and builds culture, while flexibility enables employees to do their best work. Under Iridium's Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least three days per week (approximately 60%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship-building, and professional growth.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.