Staff Software Engineer, Mission Management

About the role

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company that owns and operates the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform. We provide satellite imagery, automated analytics, and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets, and events globally. This role is part of the Mission Management Engineering team, responsible for developing and maintaining optimal, automated autonomous operations for the BlackSky constellation. The scope of expertise includes software system design and architecture, data structures, efficient data storage and retrieval, software performance and scaling, and efficient maintainable algorithm implementation.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain software for the components making up BlackSky’s mission management services.
• Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and team planning discussions.
• Take an active role in testing, debugging, and documenting implemented software functionality.
• Proactively identify problems with requirements (lack of clarity, inconsistencies, technical limitations) and communicate these issues early.
• Interface with mission planning, ground software, and platform engineers to plan and execute autonomous constellation operations software products.
• Auxiliary in operational tasks to ensure stability in production environments and support ongoing constellation operations and customer fulfillment efforts.
• Support on-call rotations and troubleshooting of live system operations as needed.
• Support Launch and Early Operations of new satellites.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or higher in computer science, mathematics, physics, statistics, or another computational field or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant software development experience.
• Fluency in Python, a strong understanding of Go, and comfort using other languages when necessary.
• Expert knowledge of software design, maintenance, and implementation including data structures, data retrieval and storage, algorithm efficiency, and maintainable scalable code.
• Demonstrated initiative to identify and solve problems or inefficiencies in your current field of expertise.
• Possess strong team and inter-team cooperation and organization skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong understanding of audience.
• Ability to sustain a workload consisting of several concurrent, independent activities.
• This position may support programs which require US citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with satellite first principles such as orbital mechanics, attitude dynamics, and satellite systems.
• Expertise in software/hardware performance characteristics.
• Experience with automation of complex systems (satellite, vehicle fleets, drones, etc.).
• Knowledge of geospatial systems or data.

Lifestyle at BlackSky

Life at BlackSky for full-time US benefits eligible employees includes:

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Professional development
• Mac or PC? Your choice!
• Awesome swag

Pay Information

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $150,000-$180,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.