Software Engineer, Command and Control

Staff Software Engineer, Command and Control

Black Sky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world’s most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. Black Sky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy.

Black Sky’s data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

Black Sky is looking for a strong, self-starting and eager engineer to join our Engineering team on the Command and Control team. This integrated product team is working to develop and maintain optimal, automated autonomous operations for the Black Sky constellation. Scope of expertise includes software system design and architecture, data structures, efficient data storage and retrieval, software performance and scaling, and efficient maintainable algorithm implementation.

The candidate should have solid experience in developing and deploying production-level systems at scale.

In this role, you will develop and track requirements, schedules, and technical implementation for a wide variety of mission management products and see them through to operation on orbit. Opportunities will exist for production code development in Python and Go. As you learn the Black Sky automated software architecture, you will be expected to grow into technical or functional leadership after demonstrated capability for individual contribution and development of expert level of knowledge of the system.

While the locations listed in the job posting are ideal, we would love candidates near Seattle, WA offices. We may also consider remote candidates in certain states.

• Design, implement, and maintain software for the components making up Black Sky’s mission management services.
• Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and team planning discussions.
• Take an active role in testing, debugging, and documenting implemented software functionality.
• Proactively identify problems with requirements (lack of clarity, inconsistencies, technical limitations) and communicate these issues early.
• Interface with mission planning, ground software, and platform engineers to plan and execute autonomous constellation operations software products.
• Assist with operational tasks to ensure stability in production environments and support ongoing constellation operations and customer fulfillment efforts.
• Support on-call rotations and troubleshooting of live system operations as needed.
• Support Launch and Early Operations of new satellites.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or higher in one of the following fields: computer science, mathematics, physics, statistics, or another computational field or equivalent experience.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant software development experience.
• Fluency in Python, a strong understanding of Go, and comfortable using other languages when necessary.
• Expert knowledge of software design, maintenance, and implementation including data structures, data retrieval and storage, algorithm efficiency, and maintainable scalable code.
• Demonstrated initiative to identify and solve problems or inefficiencies in your current field of expertise.
• Possess strong team and inter-team cooperation and organization skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong understanding of audience.
• Ability to sustain a workload consisting of several concurrent, independent activities.
• This position may support programs which require US citizenship.

• Familiarity with satellite first principals such as orbital mechanics, attitude dynamics, and satellite…