Engineer I, Software Developer (Permanent – Onsite – Reston, VA or Chandler, AZ)

Join a team that connects California to the world! Our client, an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company, boasts the only network offering voice and data connectivity anywhere on Earth. For over 20 years, their unique network and services have supported critical communication needs for individuals, businesses, and the evolving Internet of Things. They understand the importance of staying connected and the limitations of traditional communications networks. People globally, including first responders, humanitarians, militaries, scientific researchers, and lone workers, as well as ships, aircraft, and remote operations all rely on our client to stay connected. They take their responsibility seriously, pride themselves on offering a reliable lifeline, and are committed to providing an exciting, innovative workplace where employees are challenged to think outside the box and collaborate on bold ideas. Their talented teams are passionate about their work and its global impact. Our client fosters an empowering and inclusive culture that allows employees to truly be their best selves. They’re looking for individuals who want to join this truly unique company that celebrates its employees and offers the opportunity to genuinely make a difference in the world.

If you enjoy learning about and working with breakthrough technologies, and you’re enthusiastic about the space industry, then you’ll be excited about this Engineer I, Software Developer opening. This permanent, full-time position is based onsite in Reston, VA, or Chandler, AZ, and focuses on a Space Development Agency (SDA) project. As a Software Engineer within the Ground Software Development team on the SDA program, which monitors, schedules, and operates a constellation of satellites, you’ll gain invaluable experience in software development and maintenance for Ground Software and its supporting applications. Additionally, you’ll contribute to delivering high-quality projects and deliverables to completion within a larger development team, supporting cross-functional efforts across all areas of ground system software development.

What You’ll Do: Developing Software for Satellite Operations

As a Software Engineer, you’ll be an integral part of the Ground Software Development team, contributing directly to a project that monitors, schedules, and operates a constellation of satellites. Your work will span development, optimization, and process adherence within an Agile framework.

• Collaborate to Develop and Enhance Software: You’ll work collaboratively with your team to develop and enhance software specifically related to the SDA (Space Development Agency) project. This involves active participation in coding, testing, and integrating new features and functionalities that support satellite operations.
• Assist in Developing Optimized Code: You’ll assist in developing optimized code for both scalability and performance. This ensures that the software can handle increasing workloads efficiently and operates with high responsiveness, which is critical for systems monitoring and scheduling a constellation of satellites.
• Work within Agile/Scrum Framework: You’ll operate effectively within the Agile/Scrum framework for software development. This includes active participation in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives, ensuring iterative development and rapid feedback cycles. Familiarity with the Atlassian tool suite is desired for managing agile workflows.
• Support Build Environment Efforts: You’ll provide essential support for efforts in creating and/or maintaining build environments for software products. This ensures that the necessary tools, configurations, and processes are in place for compiling, linking, and packaging software applications consistently and reliably.
• Assist in Planning and Executing Software Releases: You’ll work within team objectives to assist in planning and executing software releases according to stakeholder and program schedules and budgets. This involves coordinating release activities, managing dependencies, and ensuring that software deployments are completed on time and within financial parameters.
• Participate in Updating Issue/Feature Data: You’ll actively participate in updating issue/feature data within Atlassian Project/Software tracking tools (e.g., Jira). This ensures that project progress, identified issues, and new feature requests are accurately documented and tracked, maintaining transparency and facilitating effective project management.
• Follow and Develop Process Documentation: You’ll rigorously follow existing processes for Change Control, Prioritization, Risk Management, Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) Management, Build, and Test software deployments. Furthermore, you’ll leverage this knowledge to assist in the development of process/procedure documentation materials, contributing to clearer guidelines and standardized operations.
• Edit, Structure, and Present Data and Concepts: You’ll effectively edit, structure, and present data, concepts, and arguments clearly and succinctly through various formats, including briefings and documentation. Your ability to communicate complex technical information precisely is crucial for internal collaboration and stakeholder updates.

What You’ll Need to Succeed: Your Foundational Skills for Space Industry Software

To excel as an Engineer I, Software Developer, you’ll need a solid academic background, foundational programming exposure, and strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, all with an eagerness to learn and adapt.

• Educational Background: A Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or another engineering discipline is required. This academic foundation provides the essential theoretical knowledge in software development, algorithms, and system design.
• Exposure to Agile-Based Teams: You have exposure to Agile-based teams, indicating familiarity with iterative development methodologies, collaborative environments, and a readiness to work within an Agile framework.
• Strong Communication Skills: You possess strong communication skills, with the ability to convey key messages and ideas clearly and effectively to diverse audiences. Your ability to articulate complex technical concepts concisely is crucial for successful teamwork.
• Cultivate Meaningful Relationships and Receive Feedback: You can cultivate meaningful relationships with your manager and team members, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. Crucially, you are open and responsive to constructive feedback as they guide and mentor you, demonstrating a commitment to continuous personal and professional growth.
• Problem-Solving with Humility: You have the ability to think outside the box to help solve problems, approaching challenges with creativity and an innovative mindset. Equally important, you possess the humility to ask for help when needed, recognizing when collaboration or additional guidance is necessary to overcome obstacles.
• Adaptability to Dynamic Environments: You demonstrate strong adaptability to a dynamic environment and are ready to take on any new tasks that are assigned to you. This flexibility is vital in a fast-paced technology sector like space development, where priorities and technologies can evolve rapidly.
• Motivation to Achieve Outcomes: You are driven by a strong motivation to achieve outcomes and results, demonstrating a commitment to project completion and delivering high-quality deliverables within established timelines.
• Multitasking and Accuracy: You are capable of handling multiple tasks at once and consistently completing them on time with mostly no errors. This indicates strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and efficiency in managing diverse responsibilities.
• Prioritization and Self-Awareness: You must be able to prioritize your tasks effectively, demonstrating good time management and organizational skills. You are self-aware enough to identify and correct mistakes, taking ownership of your work, and critically, you are not afraid to ask for help when needed, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning.
• Continuous Self-Improvement and Knowledge Sharing: You are actively engaged in seeking out ways to improve yourself and gain new knowledge, demonstrating a strong commitment to continuous learning and professional development. Furthermore, you are enthusiastic in sharing knowledge with others, contributing to the growth and expertise of your team.

Things That Would Be Great if You Brought to the Table: Enhancing Your Technical Profile

While the above are essential, the following technical skills and experiences would be highly beneficial:

• Containerization: Experience with Kubernetes / Docker for container orchestration and application deployment.
• Messaging/Streaming: Familiarity with Apache Kafka for high-throughput, fault-tolerant data streaming.
• Monitoring/Visualization: Experience with Grafana for data visualization and dashboarding of system metrics.
• Linux and Scripting: Proficiency in Linux-based environments and bash shell scripting.
• Programming Languages: Experience with Java / TypeScript / Python / Perl / C++.
• Data Formats/Querying: Knowledge of XML / JSON / SQL for data handling and querying.
• NoSQL Databases: Experience with NoSQL-based databases (e.g., Mongo).
• Web Technologies: Familiarity with Node.js / Apache Web Server.
• APIs & Logging: Experience with RESTful / HTTP / ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) or similar / WebSockets.
• Atlassian Tool Suite: Experience with Atlassian management/software development tools such as Jira / Git / Bitbucket / Crucible / Confluence and/or GitLab.
• Microservices: Understanding of Microservices architectures.
• Cloud Environments: Experience with AWS cloud environments.

What We’ll Also Need You To:

• Be a U.S. Citizen: This position requires U.S. Citizenship.

Work Environment:

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary, with the majority of the position involving computer work. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer