Systems Development Engineer II
Iridium is an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company with the only network that offers voice and data connectivity anywhere in the world. For over 20 years, Iridium’s unique network and services have supported critical communications needs for individuals, businesses, and the evolving Internet of Things. Our teams are passionate about providing a reliable lifeline for first responders, humanitarians, global militaries, scientific researchers, lone workers, ships, aircraft, and remote operations worldwide.
About the role
We are seeking a talented and motivated Systems Development Engineer II to join our Automation team. In this role, you will write and review code, maintain framework infrastructure, and gain valuable experience designing and developing automation for interdisciplinary projects. You’ll thrive if you enjoy software engineering, design, devops, research, deep-dive troubleshooting, and detail-oriented tasks in both individual and team-based settings.
Responsibilities
- Work with industry-standard tools and software such as Elasticsearch/Logstash/Kibana, Amazon Web Services, CI/CD pipelines, event-driven messaging, and containers
- Participate in an Agile software team to collaborate on software architecture design, API definition and implementation, virtualization, containerization, automation framework deployment, hardware communications, and data transformation/visualization
- Brainstorm creative solutions to problems within the automation organization
- Translate User Stories into specific actionable tasks
- Maintain and expand existing software tools, lab environment, and hardware components
- Create documentation that clearly presents complex information
- Learn the details and protocols of the Iridium satellite constellation and ground systems to better assist internal teams
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
- 2+ years of experience with software development or automation
- Analytical mindset with the ability to understand problems and think critically to develop solutions
- Experience developing software in Python and/or other object-oriented languages
- Demonstrated understanding of fundamental object-oriented software engineering concepts
- Experience working with Linux and/or Unix via the command line
- Experience with Git and distributed version control
- Strong communication skills and the ability to clearly present information and ideas
- Ability to build meaningful relationships with your manager and team members
- Self-awareness to identify and correct mistakes, and the ability to ask for help when needed
- Enthusiasm for continuous learning and sharing knowledge with others
- Must be a U.S. citizen to comply with U.S. government contract requirements
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Agile software development processes and tools like Jira
- Familiarity with Integrated Development Environments (e.g., PyCharm, Visual Studio)
- Containerization knowledge in Docker and/or Podman
- Experience with structured databases such as MySQL and schema-free document engines like Elasticsearch
- DevOps and CI/CD tool suites
- Configuration as Code tools
- Basic networking skills
- Intermediate knowledge of Linux and/or Unix operating systems
Work Environment
This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary, involving computer-based tasks. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least three days per week (approximately 60%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship-building, and professional growth.
Pay
Base Pay Range: $85,000 - $105,000 USD. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience and other factors. Base salary is one part of the compensation package, which may also include company stock, annual bonus, and benefits.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
- 401(k) retirement plan options
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Paid parental leave
- Other discounts and perks