Director, Ground Software Engineering
$210,000–$360,000 year
On-site · Centennial, Colorado, United States or Long Beach, California, United States
Job Summary
Director of Ground Software leads the Mosaic satellite ground software platform, overseeing vision, strategy, and execution across frontend, backend, and QA. Builds and mentors a high-performing team, defines architecture and APIs, drives real-time data processing and system scalability, engages with customers and cross-functional teams (Sales, Customer Success), steers the software development lifecycle (CI/CD, validation, configuration control, deployment), collaborates with Hardware, Flight Software, Operations, and ensures compliance with RMF/NIST standards. Preferred focus areas include Elixir/Erlang, real-time web apps, AI/ML integration in operational systems, and scaling multi-mission ground software products; requires the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance and on-site work at Centennial, CO or Long Beach, CA.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
- 12+ years of software engineering experience
- at least 5 years in leadership roles
- proven leadership of software teams of 15+ engineers across frontend, backend, and QA
- deep technical expertise in modern web technologies, particularly React and functional programming paradigms
- strong understanding of backend distributed systems, real-time data processing, and API design
- experience delivering mission-critical software in aerospace, defense, or similarly regulated industries
- experience with satellite ground systems, command and control software, or mission operations systems
- ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance
- strong product sense and ability to balance technical excellence with customer/mission requirements
- experience with product management, roadmap planning, and customer-facing product delivery
Additional Requirements
- US citizenship or eligible for required authorizations per ITAR (ITAR compliance)
- U.S. Government space technology export regulations compliance
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