Senior Backend Engineer, Space Operations Intelligence & Autonomy; SOIA

About Space Operations Intelligence & Autonomy (SOIA)

Space Operations Intelligence & Autonomy (SOIA) is the core of Slingshot’s mission. It includes the systems and software that enable satellites, operators, and constellations to understand their environment, anticipate behavior, and act autonomously in dynamic space conditions. Our capabilities span real-time domain awareness, high volume event detection, autonomous maneuver planning, AI-driven behaviour modeling, anomaly detection, risk assessment, and high-fidelity simulation environments.

Together, these form the intelligence and autonomy stack powering safer, smarter, and more resilient space operations.

As a Senior Backend Software Engineer, you’ll build the distributed systems, data platforms, and real-time services that drive Slingshot’s intelligence, autonomy, and simulation products. Your work will enable advanced space domain awareness, autonomous manoeuvre planning, high‑fidelity event detection, and mission‑ready training environments for national security and commercial customers. You’ll influence architectural direction, mentor teammates, collaborate with AI/ML and autonomy engineers, and turn complex operational needs into scalable, high reliability software that directly supports the safety and resilience of space operations.

• Execute all position responsibilities in alignment with Slingshot’s core values, mission, and purpose
• Work across the technology team with product managers, designers, and engineers to build rightsized solutions that advance Slingshot’s SOIA capabilities
• Meet product requirements in a timely manner while not compromising operational stability
• Participate in Agile software development and deployment processes
• Provide ongoing support for services and applications that are mission‑critical to real‑time space operations intelligence
• Communicate methods, findings, and hypotheses with stakeholders
• Work across both frontend and backend services to deliver value to internal and external users
• Build data platforms/pipelines, microservices, interactions with AI agents, and distributed systems powering SOIA workflows
• Build and document APIs (REST, Graph
  
  QL) supporting high volume, real‑time data flows
• Develop advanced data interfaces and interactive user experiences that streamline operator decision cycles
• Turn architecture ideas into technical specifications that can be executed by anyone on the team

• 5+ years of experience in software development
• 4-year degree in computer science, engineering, or related field
• Active security clearance required;
  Top Secret preferred
• Experience using our stack or similar technologies (Java/Kotlin, Graph
  
  QL, REST, Docker, Kubernetes, React, Python)
• Adept in working with cloud‑based deployments (AWS) including PaaS and IaaS offerings and Infrastructure‑as‑Code
• Capable of working with containers and container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, Helm, EKS)
• Deep working knowledge of version control (Git) and CI/CD tools (Git Hub Actions)
• Experience with event‑driven architectures including Kafka and Cloud Events, data platforms, microservices, and distributed systems
• Knowledge of database design, performance, and troubleshooting (Postgre
  
  SQL, Mongo
  
  DB)
• Skilled in collaborating with data scientists to incorporate AI/ML/LLM into production software
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time

• Security compliance accreditation experience (NIST 80053, DoD ILs, FedRAMP)
• Experience with software startups and product‑centric organizations
• Knowledge of frontend technologies including React and Three.js
• Collaboration experience with Dev Ops and infrastructure teams
• Familiarity with QA practices
• Track record of predictable software delivery with Product partners
• Prior space or aerospace industry experience (bonus, not required)
• Experience integrating complex external systems via APIs
• Experience with simulation technologies like HLA/DIS

We’re building a constellation here, not looking for identical satellites. Every member of the team brings different capabilities to the same mission. If your orbit intersects with ours and you’re…