Software Development Engineer

Position Title: Software Development Engineer

About Us:

BlackSky is a geospatial intelligence solutions provider that enables organizations to task, collect, and transform data from earth observation, global sensor networks, mobile devices, and social media to deliver on-demand insights about places, events, and assets that are critical to their operations. Blacksky provides satellite collection, data, and cloud based -processing and analytic solutions to organizations that are capitalizing on the exponential growth of a wide range of sensor and collection platforms for delivering the next generation of GEOINT and location intelligence solutions. BlackSky has extensive expertise and capabilities in commercial remote sensing, multi-source analytics, cloud computing, open-source software development, Amazon Web Services, and big data geospatial analytics. BlackSky provides solutions to commercial and government organizations with relevant programs with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), US. Army, and U.S. Air Force Research Labs.

While the job location listed here is ideal, we are open to hiring this position remotely in the following states or our Seattle/Washington DC suburbs offices” (AR, AZ, CO, CA, DC, FL, IN, MA, MD, MN, NC, NM, OR, PA, OH, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV)

Join the Ground Software team as an individual contributor.  Be responsible for continuing design and development of a satellite communication, constellation management system that orchestrates cloud and ground station components to control and task a constellation of earth imaging satellites as well as new product development involving image processing and machine learning. Work with a combination of hardware and software components that run on lights-out ground stations as well in the cloud.  Work with aerospace experts to determine software needs and how to integration them into the holistic constellation management and processing platform.  Be integral to the design, development, deployment, and operation of the system.  

Development will be on a modern Python on Linux stack involving continuous integration and delivery, Docker, microservices architecture, time series databases, use of and contributions to open source, integration with monitoring & alerting systems, and dealing with large data flows.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement major components of the system
• Work with aerospace architects, program managers, and other team members to gather and refine requirements
• Work with software architects and constellation engineers to define satellite maintenance and control.
• Conduct design reviews
• Be responsible for all aspects of the system – no responsibility silos
• Write test plans and unit tests.  Coordinate with testers on complex integration tests
• Ensure that all components communicate and interoperate reliably
• Help choose which technologies/frameworks are used for internal applications
• Work with outside contractors and partners to ensure that APIs meet our needs
• Work with integration testers to develop test plans that ensure adequate testing of units and the complete system
• Work with DevOps on automated deployment and monitoring

Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience delivering and maintaining commercial software in a production environment; familiarity with agile methodologies, software development and release life cycles, source control and change management.  More senior candidates highly encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrated ability to work across the team, skill sets, and company to drive features to completion
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision
• Minimum of Bachelor of Science in CS, CE, Engineering, EE, Physics or Math or equivalent work experience
• Space industry experience not required.  Expert software development skills are a plus

Desired Skills:

• Modern Python on Linux experience (Can substitute earlier Python, cloud, C++ or Java experience)
• Familiarity with Docker
• Familiarity with open source
• DevOps experience
• Enterprise level monitoring and alerting experience
• Time series data and database experience
• Familiarity with automated code review processes

BlackSky is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer All Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

EEO/AAP/ Pay Transparency Statements: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdfhttps://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf