Spacecraft Ground Software Engineer III

Quantum Space; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Generous leave

HSA

401(k) matching

Equity sharing

Job summary

Quantum Space is seeking a Spacecraft Ground Software Engineer III in Hawthorne, CA to lead development of mission-critical ground software for spacecraft testing, command and telemetry, and on-orbit operations.

You will work across flight software, mission operations, AI/AT, avionics, and systems engineering to build scalable, reliable platforms, data pipelines, and tools with modern CI/CD practices and strong security focus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical/aerospace engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of software engineering experience in production-grade systems.
• Strong proficiency in Python, Go, C++, or Java; distributed systems knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, integration, and support of ground software for testing and mission operations.
• Design and deploy telemetry pipelines, dashboards, and monitoring tools.
• Mentor junior engineers and enforce CI/CD and security best practices.
• Collaborate with flight software, mission ops, and systems engineering teams.

Skills

Distributed systems

Python

Go

C++

Java

CI/CD

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/EE/Aerospace

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Cloud platforms

Job description

Quantum Space is redefining mobility and maneuverability in space. Our high-mobility spacecraft platforms support national security, civil, and commercial missions with unmatched flexibility and propulsion capability. We build fast and iterate quickly.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking a highly skilled Spacecraft Ground Software Engineer III to lead the development, integration, and operational support of software systems that enable spacecraft testing, mission operations, and real-time ground communications.

This role is ideal for an experienced software engineer who thrives at the intersection of distributed systems, mission operations, infrastructure, and real-time data processing. You will play a key role in building the software platforms and operational tooling that support spacecraft integration, command and telemetry workflows, and mission readiness throughout the vehicle lifecycle.

You will work closely with flight software, AI&T, mission operations, avionics, and systems engineering teams to develop scalable and reliable ground software solutions that support both integration and on-orbit operations.

Where You'll Make an Impact

• Lead design, development, and deployment of ground software components including payload data pipelines, telemetry processing, event handling, dashboards, tool development, and automated monitoring.
• Own major portions of the ground segment architecture and guide long-term technical direction.
• Develop tools and automation to improve reliability, operator efficiency, and system observability across satellite missions.
• Work with mission operators, mission design and analysis, and systems engineering to understand operational workflows and translate them into software solutions.
• Lead integration of new spacecraft, subsystems, and communication interfaces into the ground system.
• Implement scalable microservices, APIs, and data pipelines to support real-time and offline mission operations.
• Ensure system resiliency, security, and performance through testing, code review, CI/CD, and operational best practices.
• Support anomaly investigations by building diagnostic tools, analyzing telemetry flows, and identifying root causes within the ground architecture.
• Mentor junior and mid‑level engineers; contribute to engineering standards and best practices.

What It Takes

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, software engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of software engineering experience, including production experience developing complex systems.
• Strong proficiency in at least one major programming language (Python, Go, C++, or Java).
• Experience developing distributed systems, APIs, or microservices architectures.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms, containerization (Docker), and orchestration frameworks (Kubernetes).
• Understanding of satellite operations concepts, telemetry/command systems, or communication protocols.
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and code quality practices.

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Prior experience developing spacecraft ground systems, mission control software, or telemetry/command frameworks.
• Experience with message bus or streaming technologies (Kafka, MQTT, Redis Streams).
• Knowledge of CCSDS standards (telemetry, command, SM&C, file delivery).
• Experience building operational UIs, dashboards, or visualization tools.
• Contributions to system architecture decisions, scaling strategies, and infrastructure automation.
• Experience supporting real-time or mission‑critical operational environments.
• Familiarity with RF systems, link-layer protocols, or satellite network configurations.

What You’ll Get

• Ownership – Lead the development of mission-critical ground software that supports spacecraft integration, testing, command and telemetry, and on-orbit operations from concept through deployment.
• Innovation – Build scalable software platforms, distributed systems, and operational tools that power the next generation of spacecraft missions and enable reliable space operations.
• Impact – Develop the software infrastructure that connects engineering, integration, and mission operations teams, directly contributing to the success of every spacecraft mission.
• Growth – Expand your expertise in ground systems, mission operations, cloud infrastructure, and distributed software while influencing technical architecture, engineering standards, and the future of Quantum Space’s software ecosystem.
• Compensation – Competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, generous leave, HSA, 401(k) matching, and equity sharing.

Location: Hawthorne, CA

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Quantum Space's total compensation package.

Additional Requirements

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including ITAR, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual per 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Quantum Space's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.