Senior Backend Software Engineer

About the role

The successful candidate will play a crucial role in developing software for our satellite systems, contributing to the expansion and enhancement of our space and ground-based data transfer capabilities. Ideal candidates will embrace the commercialization of nanosatellite systems and adapt to low-cost, fast-paced systems design, development, and implementation methodologies that set Spire apart from our competition.

Responsibilities

• Develop and enhance satellite-side applications with a focus on file transfer to and from the satellite and its payloads
• Contribute to the design and implementation of the next generation of Spire’s File Transfer architecture (Rust)
• Ensure that Spire’s file transfer services meet internal and mission-driven security standards
• Enhance observability and fault-tolerance of Spire’s file transfer services
• Take responsibility for the performance of critical file transfer services that contribute to the movement of data to and from Spire’s entire fleet of nanosatellites
• Contribute to the design and implementation of highly available, fault-tolerant systems to meet the demands of new customer missions
• Perform ground-based testing and in-orbit verification of new software services
• Cook up with Spire’s communications team, systems engineering, product owners, and internal customers to ensure alignment and optimal integration with interfacing hardware and software services
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for APIs and system architectures
• Implement observability solutions for space and ground-based services to provide a clear and actionable view of service performance

Requirements

5+ years’ experience in professional software development

Proven experience in production-grade software development using at least one compiled language

Proficiency in Python or equivalent high-level language

Excellent documentation, collaboration, and communication skills

Systems-level thinking (distributed, scalable, highly available) with an appetite for creating and adapting applications

Hands-on experience with Cloud Computing Platforms (AWS), IaC and modern CI/CD pipelines

Knowledge of version control systems

Preferred Skills

• Proficiency in Python and Rust
• Experience working under regulatory frameworks such as NIST and FAR
• Familiarity with cybersecurity principles and platforms such as Wiz
• Experience with operating a live, highly available critical system at scale
• Experience writing applications between L3 and L7 networking layers and familiarity with L2/L3 protocols
• Experience with modern AI development tooling
• Proficiency in scripting languages like Bash