Tech Lead, System Validation

Description

The company designs, builds and runs the largest fleet of imaging satellites ever flown, and sells the data it collects through a cloud platform to customers in commercial, environmental and humanitarian work. It operates as both a space company and a data company, controlling hardware, manufacturing, data processing and software itself.

Customers use the imagery to build new technologies, grow revenue, support research and tackle large global problems.

The team is spread across remote workers and offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and The Netherlands.

This role sits in the Space Operations team and focuses on the multi-mission system validation (Sysval) testbeds. You will work between satellite operations and software engineering to keep the fleet running reliably. The testbeds are how new software and firmware get validated before they go to satellites in orbit, so their uptime and tooling matter directly.

Responsibilities

• Define and carry out the roadmap for building and maintaining all system validation testbeds.
• Lead stakeholder engagement, rank requested features and secure the resources needed to deliver them.
• Build tools that let testbed users test their software and firmware updates effectively.
• Manage the hardware and software configuration of the testbeds.
• Keep the multi-mission testbed running by triaging and fixing anomalies, working with subject matter experts.
• Own the full lifecycle of the testbeds: build-out, upkeep and tooling, and identify the biggest causes of downtime to set priorities and automation work.
• Deliver through mission and discipline POCs rather than direct reports.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical or manufacturing engineering, or another related technical field.
• 4 to 6 years of testbed or network engineering experience.
• Experience with Bash, Python or another scripting or object-oriented language.
• Experience with Linux or UNIX servers, IP networks and Docker.
• Strong written and verbal communication and facilitation skills.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• A customer-centric mindset.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Nice to have: experience scaling systems used in satellite manufacturing or testing.
• Nice to have: project management experience with cross-functional teams.
• Nice to have: experience preparing training material or training a team on new responsibilities.

Conditions

Full-time, in-office role in the San Francisco office, 5 days per week.

US base salary range at the start of employment: $144,500 to $180,600 USD, based on job-related experience, skills and location. The range covers typical new-hire pay in US locations only; your recruiter can give the figure for your preferred location.

The role may also be eligible for discretionary short-term and long-term incentives, including bonus and equity.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and the posting may close early. The deadline is 11:45 PM PT (23:45) on the date listed.

The role requires access to export-controlled information under EAR and ITAR. Employment or contracting depends on being able to access that information without an export license from the Bureau of Industry and Security or the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.

Under the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the company considers applicants with arrest and conviction records.

The company welcomes applicants who do not meet every listed qualification.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision plans.
• Health Savings Account with a company contribution.
• Paid time off, holidays and company-wide days off.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Wellness program and Employee Assistance Program.
• Home office reimbursement.
• Monthly phone and internet reimbursement.
• Tuition reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning.
• Equity.
• Commuter benefits for those near an office.
• Paid volunteering time off.
• Benefits depend on employment type and location, under applicable law or company policy.