Staff Ground Software Engineer

We are seeking a dedicated Staff Ground Software Engineer to join our team in Irvine, CA. As a Staff Ground Software Engineer, you will architect, automate, and operate the mission-critical infrastructure that powers Turion's spacecraft operations. You will ensure that ground systems are highly available, observable, secure, and scalable, enabling operators to command satellites, process high-volume downlinks, and respond quickly to on-orbit events. You'll work across the full software and infrastructure lifecycle, influencing architectural decisions, developing core platform services, improving reliability, and driving engineering best practices. You will tackle complex distributed-systems challenges involving: • Scale: orchestrating high-rate telemetry ingestion, processing pipelines, and global operations • Reliability: building fault-tolerant, resilient services for mission-critical workflows • Automation: enabling fully automated deployments, testing pipelines, and operational workflows • Observability: delivering deep insight into system performance, failures, and spacecraft behavior • Security: safeguarding command paths, data integrity, and operational access control You will partner closely with mission operators, flight software engineers, and cross-functional teams to ensure our ground systems remain robust, maintainable, and operationally efficient as mission complexity grows. This is a full-time, exempt position based on-site at our office in Irvine, California. What You'll Build Mission Control Infrastructure • Core components of a scalable, cloud-native platform for spacecraft operations • Automated deployment and operational tooling for satellite fleets • Reusable infrastructure modules and shared platform capabilities • Observability, telemetry, and alerting systems for real-time operations Key Responsibilities • Design, automate, and operate the infrastructure enabling spacecraft operations • Define architectural direction for mission-critical systems, including autonomy, data pipelines, and real-time processing • Build and maintain CI/CD pipelines, deployment frameworks, and environment-level automation • Establish and uphold reliability and performance standards across ground systems • Lead and participate in on-call rotations for high-availability production environments • Partner with mission operators to turn operational needs into reliable services and tools • Drive engineering excellence through documentation, reviews, and technical mentorship • Improve the accessibility, efficiency, and reliability of satellite operations at scale Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or equivalent experience • 8+ years of software or infrastructure engineering experience, including ownership of major components or services • Strong experience with distributed systems • Expertise with cloud-native and container-based architectures • Deep Kubernetes experience (design, operation, and tuning) • Significant experience operating live, customer-facing, cloud-hosted systems • Demonstrated leadership in on-call for high-availability environments • Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance. Preferred Qualifications • Proficiency in Go • Expertise in multiple cloud stacks (e.g. AWS + Azure) • Experience with real-time data processing or data engineering pipelines • Proficiency in database administration • Interest in space systems and mission operations Staff Ground Software Engineer Salary Range: $175,000 - $225,000 USD Employees may be asked to support alternate shifts, extended shifts, and/or travel during peak work periods. ITAR Requirements: This position may include access to technology and/or software source code that is subject to U.S. export controls. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. a7 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. a7 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Benefits: We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package designed to support the well-being and professional growth of our employees. In addition to a competitive base salary and company stock, determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, and market demand, full-time employees are eligible for: • Equity: Receive equity in Turion Space, letting you benefit from the company's success • Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents. • Retirement Plans: Access to a 401(k) plan with a 3% Employer Direct Contribution to help you plan for your future. • Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, sick days, and holidays to ensure you have time to recharge. • Parental Leave: Paid parental leave following the birth of a newborn or adoption. • Emotional Wellbeing: A no-cost Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your household's emotional health and wellbeing. • Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing internal training, workshops, and courses to advance your skills and career growth. • Team Building Activities: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities to foster a positive work environment.