Senior Ground Software Engineer, Turion Space
$140-180k
+ Equity
Office located in Irvine, CA
Satellite manufacturer & operator
Posted today
Satellite manufacturer & operator
21-100 employees
Posted today
$140-180k
+ Equity
Office located in Irvine, CA
21-100 employees
Company mission
To advance space sustainability, bridge national security capability gaps, and realign incentives across the value chain in satellite manufacturing.
Role
Who you are
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
- 5+ years of software development experience, with a track record of leading projects or teams
- Expertise in full-stack development and proven ability to personally design, build, and test complex software systems
- Experience with cloud-native architectures, microservices, and distributed systems
- Ability to be on call and work extended hours or weekends as needed to support mission-critical operations
- Must be able to obtain a Secret and/or a TS/SCI clearance
Desirable
- Proficiency in Go, Python, or JavaScript/TypeScript, with a strong background in API Development (Echo, FastAPI, Express, Fastify)
- Deep experience with relational databases, ideally PostgreSQL, including designing schemas, writing complex queries, and performance tuning
- Advanced knowledge of front-end frameworks like React, with an emphasis on building performant and maintainable user interfaces
- Proven experience in building, deploying, and maintaining production-grade systems
- Familiarity with NoSQL databases (e.g., Couchbase, MongoDB, Cassandra) and their role in scalable, distributed applications
- Experience with Kubernetes
- Experience with AWS (EC2, S3, Batch, Lambda)
- Experience with Jira or other defect-tracking software
- Experience with data engineering and managing large-scale data pipelines
- Familiarity with real-time data processing
- Involvement in the space industry or related fields, with a passion for space exploration
What the job involves
- At Turion Space, you’ll join a dynamic team dedicated to pioneering space technology and innovation
- As a Senior Software Engineer, you’ll be at the forefront of building cutting-edge Mission Control Systems, developing advanced tools for GNC and AI engineers, and architecting applications that directly impact space missions
- You'll tackle complex challenges, from designing scalable distributed systems to delivering high-performance APIs that are mission-critical for real-world operators and developers
- Join us to help shape the future of space exploration and make a tangible impact on missions that matter
- Lead the software engineering process from concept to delivery, taking ownership of the full product development lifecycle and setting the technical direction
- Mentor and guide a team of engineers, providing technical leadership and fostering a culture of continuous improvement
- Engage with users and stakeholders to understand their needs, turning challenges into innovative and impactful software solutions
- Architect and develop mission-critical software systems, including Mission Control Systems (MCS), advanced tools for internal teams, and applications that support complex, real-world space missions
- Build and maintain APIs and tools that enhance Turion Space's operations, improving efficiency and scalability for various subsystems and external customers
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to refine and continuously improve software products, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of our missions
- Drive team discussions on architecture, design, and code reviews, ensuring high-quality, scalable, and secure system designs
- Deliver impactful solutions that power mission-critical operations, crafting intuitive interfaces and automation tools that simplify complex tasks for operators
Our take
To empower critical space missions, Turion Space builds and operates DROID Satellites that its clients can control through the company's operating system (known as Starfire).
The idea behind Turion's approach is to simplify satellite operations by making them non-configurable, instead handling day-to-day operations itself. In this way, the company helps its clients to eliminate friction between platform and bus suppliers, which can hinder the potential of missions.
To support the expansion of its operations, which include non-earth imaging, space debris removal and satellite servicing, the company has raised strategic funding. This positions it well to move towards its goal of producing 45 satellites annually by 2027.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Funding (2 rounds)
Dec 2022
$5m
EARLY VC
Sep 2021
$6.2m
SEED
Total funding: $11.2m
Company HQ
Irvine Spectrum Center, Irvine, CA
Leadership
Ryan Westerdahl
(Co-Founder & CEO)Previously spent over 8 years at SpaceX, initially as a Propulsion Development Engineering Intern before becoming a Dynamics Engineer.
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