Deployed Engineer

Description

Spacecraft represent the most pressing unmet need across the entire aerospace industry. As more launch vehicles come online and the cost to orbit decreases, more companies launching payloads to space continue to emerge.

For the first time in history, this influx of payload companies combined with reduced launch costs has resulted in a massive increase in need for commercial spacecraft platforms, known as satellite buses. These buses hold the payloads of our customers and are flown on launch vehicles.

Apex manufactures these satellite buses at scale using a combination of software, vertical integration, and hardware that is designed for manufacturing. Our spacecraft enable the future of society: ranging from earth observation to communications and more.

We’d love for you to join us on our mission of providing humankind access to the galaxy beyond our planet.

About the Role

Apex is seeking a Deployed Engineer to support the delivery, integration, and customer adoption of Apex’s software-enabled non-bus products, including virtual flatsats, bus emulators, electrical ground support equipment, EGSE test racks, and related test tools.

This is a software-oriented, customer-facing engineering role for someone who is comfortable working directly with customers in high-stakes technical environments. You will serve as the primary technical software interface for customers, providing day-to-day support across Apex vehicles and customer integration environments. This includes supporting flight software and ground software compatibility, helping customers bring Apex-provided tools online, answering technical questions, and coordinating with internal engineering teams to resolve software and system-level issues.

This is not a traditional desk-based software role. The ideal candidate is comfortable traveling to customer sites, working hands-on in lab or integration environments, and solving technical issues directly alongside customers.

As the first role of its kind at Apex, this person will help define what deployed engineering looks like for the company. Over time, they will help build the processes, documentation, escalation paths, and operating model needed to scale customer deployments across Apex’s growing product portfolio.

Requirements

• U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export controlled data.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field
• Strong software engineering background, with experience building, debugging, integrating, or supporting software-enabled technical products
• Experience troubleshooting complex technical systems in lab, integration, production, field, or customer environments
• Ability to support software compatibility across flight software, ground software, test tools, and customer integration environments
• Experience with Linux, Python, C/C++, networking, test automation, APIs, or similar technical tools
• Ability to read, interpret, and support implementation of software Interface Control Documents, system diagrams, test procedures, and other technical documentation
• Strong customer-facing communication skills, with the ability to explain technical issues clearly to both engineering and non-engineering audiences
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments where the path is not fully defined
• Willingness and ability to travel to customer sites as needed
• Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with aerospace, spacecraft, satellites, avionics, ground systems, EGSE, or mission operations
• Experience supporting customer operation of virtual flatsats, bus emulators, EGSE test racks, or similar lab-based engineering systems
• Experience supporting hardware/software integration, system test, or field deployment of technical products
• Prior experience in a field applications engineering, solutions engineering, deployed engineering, systems engineering, or customer-facing technical role
• Familiarity with spacecraft bus architectures, flight software, ground software, telemetry, command and control systems, or electrical ground support equipment
• Experience resolving customer technical questions by coordinating clarifications with internal software, systems, avionics, or product engineering teams
• Experience tracking changes, clarifications, and updates needed to software-related customer documentation
• Interest in helping define and grow a new technical function from the ground up
• LI-RC1

Benefits

• Apex believes in creating a work environment that you look forward to embracing every day. Our employees love working at Apex, and we want you to love it too. We're a fast-growing startup that has raised more than $500M in funding, and we invest heavily in our people from day one.
• Shared upside: Receive equity in Apex, letting you benefit from the work you create
• Best-in-class healthcare: 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision for you and your dependents, plus $100k life insurance at no cost
• Comprehensive PTO package to reset and recharge - starting at 15 days vacation, growing to 20+ days annually, plus 10 paid holidays
• Competitive 401(k) plan with generous matching - 100% match on first 3%, 50% on next 2%
• 8 weeks paid parental leave plus childcare reimbursement up to $350/day for work-related travel
• Daily catered lunch and unlimited snacks to keep you fueled throughout the day
• Vibrant community: Monthly office socials, pickleball tournaments, run club, and gatherings for you and your family
• Your dream desk setup and all the tools you need to be your most productive self
• World-class Playa Vista office with the benefit of in-person collaboration with amazing coworkers and flexibility to integrate work and life
• Real impact opportunity: Work alongside experts from aerospace, new space, and other cutting-edge industries to make a lasting difference
• Additional Information:
• Compensation ranges are set by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. A candidate's specific level and base pay are determined case by case and may vary with job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities, and internal equity. Beyond base salary, full-time hires are also eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options, along with medical, dental, and vision coverage and a 401(k) retirement plan.
• ITAR Requirements
• Apex's work is governed by U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). To be eligible for this role, applicants must either (1) qualify as a U.S. Person, meaning a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a refugee admitted under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or an individual granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or (2) be able to obtain the required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or another applicable U.S. government agency. You can learn more about ITAR here .