Backend Engineer
Summary
Backend engineer building cloud-based satellite ground-operations software in Python on AWS: designing scalable APIs, Kubernetes/containerized deployments, CI/CD automation, and generative AI integrations. Hybrid role (2-3 days onsite) at a ~70-person venture-backed space company in Denver, CO; active clearance required.
Location: Denver, CO office.
Working arrangement: Hybrid, approximately 2–3 days onsite each week
Compensation: $120,000–$180,000 base salary plus equity
Employment type: Full-time
About the Company
Join a venture-backed software company building modern infrastructure for satellite operations. Its platform allows commercial and government customers to command, monitor and operate different spacecraft and constellations through one scalable software environment.
The company was founded by experienced engineers and satellite operators who wanted to replace fragmented, highly customized ground systems with modern, reusable software.
- Approximately 70 employees with an engineering-led culture
- Meaningful equity and direct product influence
- Software supporting real commercial and government missions
- Small teams with significant technical ownership
- Opportunity to build foundational products rather than maintain legacy systems
- Collaborative environment spanning software, aerospace and mission operations
The Role
We are looking for a Backend Software Engineer to develop scalable, cloud-based software supporting satellite operations. The ideal candidate has strong Python and AWS experience, with the ability to build reliable APIs, optimize cloud infrastructure, and contribute to backend architecture and automation. Previous aerospace experience is not required.
What You'll Do
- Develop and maintain backend software for satellite ground operations using Python and AWS
- Design and build scalable APIs and integrate cloud services such as EC2, S3, RDS, Fargate, and EKS
- Improve software performance, security, reliability, and cloud infrastructure costs
- Develop new features and troubleshoot issues across backend applications and cloud services
- Automate workflows and optimize cloud resource utilization
- Contribute to software architecture, generative AI integrations, and DevSecOps practices
- Support CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and deployment processes
- Collaborate with frontend and backend engineers in an Agile Scrum environment
Required Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related technical field
- 3+ years of professional experience in backend or full-stack development, or equivalent hands-on technical expertise
- Strong programming skills in Python, with experience using GraphQL, Docker, and Terraform or similar Infrastructure-as-Code tools
- Experience designing, integrating, and troubleshooting APIs, including AI platforms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, or AskSage
- Strong understanding of containerized applications and Kubernetes deployments
- Hands-on experience with AWS services such as Lambda, ECS, EKS, CloudWatch, S3, EC2, and RDS
- Experience with Git-based development workflows using GitHub, GitLab, or similar platforms
- Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills, with a focus on software quality, reliability, and performance
- Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with frontend, backend, and product teams
- U.S. Person status required; visa sponsorship is not available
- Must have active U.S. Secret Clearance
Eligibility
Candidates must have an active TS/SCI clearance, with the ability to maintain it throughout employment and work from the office under the required hybrid schedule.
Why Consider It?
Work directly with spacecraft systems, solve complex integration challenges, and help shape software used in real satellite missions.
Outstanding benefits include: unlimited PTO (minimum 15 days encouraged), 100% employee health insurance coverage, 4% 401(k) matching, quarterly wellness benefits, paid holidays, and equity.
Interested in where this could take you? Get in touch for a confidential conversation.