Senior Software Developer TS/SCI

About the role

Iridium is an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company with a network that offers voice and data connectivity anywhere in the world. We support critical communications needs for various sectors, including first responders, humanitarians, militaries, and scientific researchers. We are seeking a Senior Software Developer to join our National Security Missions team, where you will design, build, and deploy mission-critical ground segment software.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to design, build, and deploy a state-of-the-art, highly resilient Ground System.
• Support end-to-end development, from system architecture and software design to integration, test (I&T), and operational deployment.
• Build, configure, and maintain CI/CD pipelines and build environments to ensure secure, consistent, and repeatable software deployments across mission networks.
• Manage software releases, ensuring strict alignment with stakeholder timelines, program schedules, and budget constraints.
• Ensure rigorous process and COTS integration, adhering to and refining established protocols for change control, risk management, prioritization, and COTS (Commercial-off-the-shelf) integration.
• Contribute to formalizing robust build/test procedures and process documentation.
• Track and trace execution, maintaining accurate, up-to-date issue tracking, feature documentation, and project status across the development lifecycle using Atlassian tools.
• Lead technical communication, translating complex ground segment concepts into clear, concise briefings, documentation, and reports tailored for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Provide timely, well-informed technical input within your area of expertise to support stakeholder inquiries, system development, and cross-functional efforts.
• Autonomously identify and implement robust software solutions to overcome complex architectural challenges, delivering secure, customer-driven mission capabilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of hands-on software development experience, with a strong focus on network-level or systems-level programming.
• Proficiency in Python and Java, with demonstrated ability to write production-grade code in both languages.
• Strong experience working in Linux-based environments, including Bash shell scripting for automation and system administration.
• Hands-on experience with RESTful APIs, HTTP protocols, WebSockets, and log aggregation/analytics tools such as the ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) or equivalent.
• Working knowledge of both relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL) and NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB).
• Prominent track record of delivering software within Agile-based development teams.
• Ability to design, implement, and maintain comprehensive unit and integration test suites, contributing effectively across the full software development lifecycle.
• Comprehension and working from detailed technical documentation, specifications, and architecture diagrams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate products, deliverables, analyses, and technical issues to cross-functional teams and non-technical stakeholders.
• A confident, relationship-oriented professional who builds trust and rapport easily with leadership, peers, and colleagues across the organization.
• An analytical and creative problem-solver who can assess complex situations, think critically, and develop innovative, out-of-the-box solutions.
• A proactive team contributor who actively shares knowledge, provides constructive feedback, and mentors others to elevate the team’s capabilities.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize your own workload—and potentially guide others—to consistently meet deadlines.
• A continuous learner with a growth mindset, eager to expand your skill set and develop deep expertise across the full suite of System Performance and Analysis software.

Qualifications

• Active Top-Secret/SCI Clearance (a U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active).

Skills

• Experience in satellite operations ground segment environments, particularly in network management or packet-level data handling.
• Familiarity with the Atlassian tool suite (Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket) in a professional development setting.
• Experience with Flight Dynamics, Mission planning, and Network Management.
• Experience with Containerization & Orchestration: Kubernetes, Docker, Podman, ArgoCD.
• Experience with I/CD Pipelines & Artifact Management: GitLab, JFrog Artifactory, Bitbucket.
• Experience with Additional Programming Languages: C++, TypeScript, Perl.
• Experience with Data Formats & Query Languages: XML, JSON, SQL.
• Experience with Web Technologies: js, Apache Web Server.
• Experience with Security: Security vulnerability analysis and remediation procedures.
• Experience with Project & Development Tools: Atlassian suite including Jira, Git, Crucible, and Confluence.
• Experience with Architecture & Design Patterns: Microservices architectures and distributed system design.
• Experience with Testing: Automated testing frameworks and test automation strategies.
• Experience with Cloud Environments: Government (GovCloud) and commercial Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud environments.

Benefits

Base Pay Range: $120,000 - $160,000 USD. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors and this range represents an estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Base salary is only one part of our compensation package for this role. You may also be eligible for company stock and annual bonus. Employee benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid time off and paid holidays; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.