Senior Software Engineer, Ground & Control Services

Join BlackSky, a leader in real-time intelligence, and be at the forefront of our advanced space-based intelligence platform. We are looking for a passionate and driven Senior Software Engineer to join our Ground & Control Services team. This team is responsible for developing the autonomous software that controls and monitors BlackSky’s satellite constellation, ensuring high-speed tasking, robust telemetry, and low-latency communication worldwide. If you thrive on solving complex problems, have a strong sense of initiative, and are excited about making a global impact, this role is for you.

About Us

BlackSky operates the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform, providing critical satellite imagery, automated analytics, and high-frequency monitoring. Trusted by leading military, intelligence, and commercial organizations, our data enables customers to anticipate change and gain a strategic advantage. We are a people-first, customer-focused company committed to innovation and making a difference.

About the Ground & Control Team

The Ground & Control team builds the autonomous software that governs our satellite constellation. This includes managing high-speed tasking, processing ground and space telemetry, monitoring satellite health, and ensuring low-latency communication with our global ground stations. You will develop software that bridges hardware interfaces with cloud-deployed microservices, contributing to mission-critical systems that operate 24/7 with minimal human intervention.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain software enabling autonomous satellite operations and real-time tasking.
• Develop and integrate services interfacing with ground station infrastructure and satellite communication protocols.
• Build software solutions to support satellite tasking and monitoring.
• Collaborate with operations, communication engineers, flight software engineers, mission planning engineers, and other software teams to refine technical requirements.
• Write clean, maintainable code with a strong emphasis on safety, test coverage, and reliability.
• Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and team planning discussions.
• Support on-call rotations and troubleshooting of live system operations as needed.
• Anticipated 10-15% travel required to customer sites.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.
• A minimum of six (6) years of professional software development experience.
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages (e.g., Go, Python, C++).
• Experience developing and deploying microservices in cloud environments (e.g., AWS, GCS, Azure) and on-premise Kubernetes-based environments.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and modern version control systems (e.g., Git).
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to understand complex systems end-to-end.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills in a cross-functional team environment.
• Some programs may require US citizenship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or higher) in a related technical field.
• At least eight years of professional software development experience.
• Exposure to infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform, Ansible) and container orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes, Nomad).
• Understanding of system safety, fault tolerance, and recovery strategies.
• Comfort working in high-availability, mission-critical software environments.
• Prior experience with satellite operations, ground stations, or other aerospace-related domains (e.g., X-Band, UHF, or telemetry).
• Active secret or higher U.S. security clearance.

Life at BlackSky

Full-time benefits-eligible employees enjoy:

• Comprehensive insurance: Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life, AD&D, voluntary life, and AD&D insurance. BlackSky covers 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental, and vision, and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses.
• Generous time off: 15 days of PTO, 11 company holidays, four floating holidays (pro-rated), one day of paid volunteerism leave, and parental leave.
• Retirement savings: 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match.
• Financial wellness: Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Stock Purchase Program.
• Support programs: Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs.
• Community engagement: Employer matching donations.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Choice of Mac or PC.
• Awesome swag.

Location

While the listed locations are ideal, candidates near the Seattle, WA office are preferred. Remote candidates in certain states may also be considered.

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $140,000-160,000 per year. The final compensation package will depend on the candidate's specific background and education. This pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations.