Design, develop, test, and integrate ground software and mission control systems including operator GUIs, automation tools, real-time telemetry acquisition, time-series data processing, mission databases, CI systems, and integration with satellites, ground stations, and network infrastructure to support spacecraft operations.
As a Ground Software Engineer, you will create and implement intuitive, high-performance user interfaces, utilizing time-series databases for real-time testing and interfacing with space vehicles. You will design software systems that enable operators to conduct missions reliably and efficiently. Your work will support a wide range of activities, from near-Earth payload deliveries to geostationary orbit operations.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, integrate, test, and deliver large-scale ground software and mission control systems, including operator GUI’s and automation tools
- Develop and implement software tools for operational automation, to reduce day-to-day operator responsibilities
- Support design and operation of the ground segment, including command and control, mission planning, mission data processing, and the associated infrastructure to support all activities.
- Develop continuous integration and testing systems in order to confidently deploy new software.
- Support end-to-end spacecraft testing to prepare Impulse hardware for flight
- Implement specific mission data processing applications into existing systems to support payloads and end data users
- Manage mission databases and data distribution
- Integrate and test ground software with satellite, ground stations, and network infrastructure
- Implement real-time data acquisition, processing, and visualization systems for satellite telemetry
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Math, Physics, Engineering, or related degrees.
- 2+ years of experience with spacecraft, ground station, or other communication system operations
- 2+ years of experience in software development encompassing both back-end and front-end development, as well as database management.
- Demonstrated experience working in Python for backend services, scripting, and data processing
- Experience with modern web frameworks such as Vue.js or React for building responsive UIs
- Experience with networking protocols (UDP, TCP, etc)
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Demonstrated experience working with time-series databases
- Familiarity with Docker and Kubernetes containerization and service orchestration systems.
- Experience using Grafana and setting up Grafana dashboards
- Familiarity with modern cloud providers, preferably AWS
- Strong knowledge of satellite communication protocols, such as CCSDS
- Familiarity with source code configuration management and version control concepts
- Familiarity with database management and data visualization
Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Space’s spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder), an individual granted asylum in the U.S., or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
About
Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers throughout LEO. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go.
Impulse Space El Segundo, California, USA Office
El Segundo, CA, United States, 90245
Similar Jobs
Aerospace • Security • Defense
Build and maintain backend and infrastructure software for ground navigation: control plane, workflow orchestration, databases, product repositories, ingestion pipelines, observability, CI/CD, and operator tools. Integrate orbit determination, telemetry, reference data, and validation into repeatable per-spacecraft workflows and collaborate with astrodynamics, flight software, mission operations, and systems teams to operationalize navigation products.
Top Skills:
C++CcsdsCi/CdDockerGitGnssKubernetesLinuxMessage BusesObject StoresPythonRelational Databases
Aerospace • Defense
Build cloud-based mission planning and control systems, design cloud architecture, manage deployments with Kubernetes/Helm/AWS Lambda, process spacecraft telemetry with Kafka/InfluxDB/Grafana, integrate APIs with ground station networks, ensure low-latency fault-tolerant systems, and deploy infrastructure across workstations, on-premises data centers, and cloud environments.
Top Skills:
AWSAws LambdaAzureCi/CdContainersDockerFastapiGCPGovcloudGrafanaHelmInfluxdbKafkaKubernetesLinuxPython
Aerospace • Defense
Develop and maintain mission-specific ground software, configure and extend Loft's Cockpit for customers, implement features for physical and virtual missions, troubleshoot integrations and live mission issues, and participate in satellite operations and commissioning.
Top Skills:
Automated TestingC++CueDjangoDockerGitGitlab Ci/CdGraphQLKubernetesPython
What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene
Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.
Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
- Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
- Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering
