Backend Engineer – Mission Operations Services

Loft Orbital

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

Posted 9/17/2026full-timeSan Francisco • California • 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 support mission-critical systems.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Python DevelopmentAPI DesignMicroservices ArchitectureDockerBackend Web Development Frameworks

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Backend Software EngineeringProduction EnvironmentsDjangoFlaskFastAPIHTTP APIsGraphQLPostgresKubernetesTime-Series Databases

Tools & Technologies

DockerKubernetesInfluxDBTimescaleDB

Industry Keywords

Satellite OperationsMission-Critical SystemsReal-Time SystemsTelemetryGround Segment Providers

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

DjangoDockerFlaskGraphQLKubernetesMicroservicesPostgresPython

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design and build backend tools for operations, including services powering passes, autopilots, activities, and day-to-day satellite 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 end-to-end 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, occasionally investigating anomalies and supporting real-time incident response
Build and scale microservices connecting ground and flight software for safe, reliable on-orbit operations
Debug live missions across multiple satellite platforms

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/REST-style APIs
Experience with Django and/or GraphQL is nice to have
Strong database fundamentals and practical experience, such as Postgres or time-series databases, is nice to have
Exposure to Kubernetes in production is nice to have
Familiarity with InfluxDB, TimescaleDB, or other time-series systems is nice to have
Background in mission-critical, distributed, or real-time systems is nice to have

Benefits

Comp & perks

SatDevOps training
Supportive team and amazing culture