Backend Engineer – Mission Operations Services

Loft Orbital

. Design and build backend tools for satellite operations, including services powering passes, autopilots, activities, and day-to-day operations .

Posted 9/17/2026full-timeGolden • Colorado • United StatesMid-LevelSenior💰 $140,000 - $190,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in backend software engineering with a strong focus on Python development, API design, and microservices architecture. Capable of collaborating across teams to enhance satellite operations and ensure robust, reliable systems in mission-critical environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Python DevelopmentAPI DesignMicroservices ArchitectureDockerKubernetes

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Backend Software EngineeringProduction EnvironmentsDjangoFlaskFastAPIPostgresGraphQLHTTP APIsTime-Series DatabasesDistributed Systems

Tools & Technologies

DockerKubernetesInfluxDBTimescaleDB

Industry Keywords

Satellite OperationsTelemetryMission-Critical SystemsReal-Time SystemsSatDevOps

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

DjangoDockerFlaskGraphQLKubernetesMicroservicesPostgresPython

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design and build backend tools for satellite operations, including services powering passes, autopilots, activities, and day-to-day operations
Handle commands and telemetry across multiple satellite buses and ground segment providers, focusing on safety, robustness, and observability
Write production backend code in Python and own services from design and implementation through deployment and maintenance
Collaborate with flight software, embedded software, integration and test, and space infrastructure teams to integrate new satellite buses and capabilities into Cockpit
Support internal Cockpit users, including operators, test engineers, and solutions engineers, by improving APIs, workflows, and debugging tools
Participate in spacecraft operations through SatDevOps rotations, investigate anomalies, and support real-time incident response when needed
Build and scale microservices that connect ground and flight software for safe, reliable on-orbit operations

Requirements

What you’ll need

4+ years of relevant backend software engineering experience in production environments
Solid Python development experience in a production environment
Experience with Docker and container-based development
Hands-on experience with backend web development frameworks such as Django, Flask, or FastAPI
Proven API design skills, including designing, documenting, and maintaining HTTP, GraphQL, or REST-style APIs
Experience with Django and/or GraphQL
Strong database fundamentals and practical experience, such as Postgres or time-series databases
Exposure to Kubernetes in production
Familiarity with InfluxDB, TimescaleDB, or other time-series systems
Background in mission-critical, distributed, or real-time systems

Benefits

Comp & perks

SatDevOps training
Supportive team and culture