Software Engineer - Space Infrastructure

Loftorbital; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts

401(k) plan and equity options

Daily catered lunches and snacks

Fully paid parental leave

Job summary

Loftorbital is seeking a Space Infrastructure Software Engineer based in San Francisco, CA, to help scale operations for a heterogeneous fleet of satellites. In this role, you will develop robust software and systems for automated satellite operations while ensuring the reliability and safety of Loft's space infrastructure.

The ideal candidate will have over 3 years of software engineering experience, proficiency in Python and automation, and a willingness to take on Flight Director responsibilities. The position offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance and flexible time off.

Join Loftorbital to help shape the future of space operations!

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Proven experience developing software with solid skills in automation.
• Ability to work across the full software and hardware stack.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain software systems that autonomously operate satellites.
• Build tools, systems, and software libraries for satellite platform integration.
• Scale satellite operations software for a growing fleet.
• Serve as a rotating Flight Director overseeing fleet safety.

Skills

Software Development

Automation

Python

Git

Docker

CI/CD Pipelines

Reliability Engineering

Job description

Wanna join the adventure?

As a Space Infrastructure Software Engineer, you are responsible for scaling our ability to operate a heterogeneous fleet of satellites--spanning dedicated, rideshare, and constellation missions. You will work at the intersection of automated satellite operations, ground and flight software, and solving on-orbit problems.

The team is responsible for ensuring the reliable, efficient, and standardized operation of Loft’s space infrastructure. Within the operational fleet of Loft satellites, the team is responsible for the stability of the satellite bus, the Hub, and Loft-owned payloads as a platform to execute customer missions.

Loft’s business and its customer’s businesses are built on the reliability of its space infrastructure. This team’s work is foundational for that model, and gives you a wide latitude to work on different systems, ranging from code that interacts with and uses Cockpit, our mission control system, to code that executes onboard our satellites. It will also give you the opportunity to become a Flight Director, responsible for the health and safety of our fleet.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the software systems that autonomously operate our satellites, improving the reliability and scalability of our space infrastructure.
• Build tools, systems, and software libraries to enable other teams to integrate and operate effectively on Loft’s satellite platform.
• Scale our satellite operations software to support an increasingly heterogeneous and growing fleet.
• Partner with product teams to drive continuous improvements based on operational and integration feedback.
• Contribute to and maintain SatDevOps Academy, our internal training program for company-wide satellite operations readiness.
• Serve as a rotating Flight Director, overseeing incident response and ensuring the health and safety of the fleet.

Qualifications

• Proven experience developing software, with solid skills in automation.
• Ability to work across the full software and hardware stack—including ground-based automation, space-based automation, and the interfaces that connect them.
• Proficiency in Python and Git.
• Willingness and enthusiasm to be trained as a satellite controller and Flight Director (including participation in the on-call rotation).
• Pragmatic mindset: able to balance long-term reliability with short- and medium-term solutions.
• Accountability and autonomy; comfortable taking ownership and delivering results.
• Openness to learning, working outside your comfort zone, and tackling unfamiliar challenges.
• 3+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Familiarity or experience with Docker, Lua, Linux, CI/CD pipelines, test engineering, or reliability engineering.
• Hands‑on experience as a satellite operator.

Benefits

• 100% company‑paid medical, dental, and vision insurance option for employees and dependents
• Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) Accounts offered with an employer contribution to the HSA
• 100% employer paid Life, AD&D, Short‑Term, and Long‑Term Disability insurance
• Flexible Time Off policy for vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays
• 401(k) plan and equity options
• Daily catered lunches and snacks in office
• International exposure to our team in France
• Fully paid parental leave; 14 weeks for birthing parent and 10 weeks for non-birthing parent
• Carrot Fertility provides comprehensive, inclusive fertility healthcare and family‑forming benefits with financial support
• Off‑sites and many social events and celebrations
• Relocation assistance when applicable

* Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other underrepresented people tend to only apply when they meet 100% of the qualifications. At Loft, we value respectful debate and people who aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions. We strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t check all the boxes.