Space-Grade Software Engineer – Payloads & Autonomy

Space Tango LLC; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Space Tango LLC, based in Lexington, Kentucky, seeks a software engineer to design, develop, and maintain software for automated payloads, facilities, and mission operations. You will build backend services, APIs, and user interfaces using Python, supporting reliability across diverse spaceflight projects.

The role involves collaborating with electrical, mechanical, science, and mission operations teammates.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Python development skills appropriate to your experience level.
• Experience developing software applications through professional work, internships, academic projects, or other substantial hands-on projects.
• Knowledge of software engineering technical skills including multiple programming languages and core concepts, development frameworks and libraries, software architecture and design, data structures, databases and data management, operating systems and networking, cloud platforms, DevOps, security best practices, and general engineering troubleshooting and verification techniques
• Strong problem-solving and debugging skills.
• Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Calm, disciplined execution during time-sensitive operations.
• Commitment to team success and mission reliability.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, test, and maintain software supporting Space Tango payloads, facilities, and mission operations.
• Build backend services, APIs, databases, automation tools, and user interfaces using Python and related technologies.
• Contribute to reliable, maintainable, and reusable software architectures across projects.
• Develop new capabilities while maintaining and improving software supporting active spaceflight missions.
• Collaborate across disciplines to translate engineering and scientific objectives into practical software solutions.
• Develop software that interfaces with hardware, robotics, laboratory automation, scientific instruments, and payload control systems.
• Support integration, verification, debugging, and troubleshooting throughout the project lifecycle.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, participate in code and design reviews, and follow Space Tango’s development processes and quality standards.
• Evaluate and apply appropriate software tools, automation, and AI-assisted development practices to improve productivity and software quality.
• At more experienced levels, lead technical efforts, mentor engineers, and contribute to software strategy and development standards.

Skills

Python

Problem solving

Collaboration

Education

BS or MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or related technical discipline

Job description

Space Tango LLC, based in Lexington, Kentucky, seeks a software engineer to design, develop, and maintain software for automated payloads, facilities, and mission operations. You will build backend services, APIs, and user interfaces using Python, supporting reliability across diverse spaceflight projects.

The role involves collaborating with electrical, mechanical, science, and mission operations teammates.