Software Engineering Leader

Capella Space stands at the forefront of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology and signal intelligence. We provide customers in governments, academia, and commercial sectors with reliable information that enables unparalleled understanding of the world. Our mission is centered on delivering timely and reliable Earth imagery, supporting diverse applications in defense & intelligence, disaster response, energy, environmental monitoring and more. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, Capella Space designs, manufactures and operates an advanced constellation of SAR imaging satellites. Our market-leading SAR satellites are complemented by an unmatched data infrastructure and automated ordering and delivery platform for fast, reliable insights where and when customers need it most. 

Recognized for our technological prowess, Capella Space was honored as one of the 10 most innovative companies in Space in 2023 by FASTCOMPANY. Capella Space is an internationally trusted Earth Observation data provider, working closely with the U.S. Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force, NASA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the Canadian Government and more to make unclassified, high-resolution SAR data more accessible.  

What Makes Capella Unique? 

Capella Space is a highly collaborative team environment, providing an opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the space industry, though no prior space experience is needed.  We’re looking for people excited about tackling seemingly impossible challenges, learning new skills and concepts, and helping each other achieve success. Our mission and our products are meant to understand the whole world and help everyone in it - regardless of race, creed, or any other distinction. We encourage you to bring your unique perspective to help make us stronger, including applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. 

About Us: 
At Capella Space we are pioneers, dedicated to delivering innovative, high-reliability solutions that shape the future of end-to-end space observation systems. As we continue to expand our capabilities, we are looking for a Software Engineering leader to lead our ground software & data platform engineering teams, focusing on developing, deploying, and maintaining our complex, high-reliability, high availability, cloud-based ground software and data delivery platform. 

Role Overview: 
In this role, you will be responsible for overseeing the design, development, and operation of our cloud-based automated constellation operations system, comprising the entire ground segment, including data transport, storage, processing and delivery, customer interfaces & APIs, automated constellation tasking & scheduling, GNC & orbit control, and satellite operations.  

In addition, you will develop strategy for & guide software solution delivery efforts, including customer specific ground stations & international satellite system operations & support. 

You will lead a growing team of software engineers, system architects, and satellite operators, and set the strategic direction for our platform development in alignment with the company’s vision. This is a high-impact role that will have a direct influence on the technical direction, performance and reliability of our services that power our constellation of earth observation satellites. 

This role holds a leadership position within Capella Space, and you will be expected to contribute to the overall company strategy definition and effectively communicate with key stakeholders, both internal & external. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Leadership & Strategy: 

• Lead and mentor a high-performing team responsible for the architecture, development, and operation of 24/7, mission-critical cloud software.
• Direct system architects to define the future state of the mission critical platform.
• Define and drive the strategic vision for software engineering across the company, focusing on reliability, scalability, and satellite constellation performance.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to ensure software engineering goals align with broader business objectives and mission requirements.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement across all software development efforts. 

High-Reliability Sys