Senior Backend Software Engineer

About the Role

Spire is looking for a Senior Software Engineer to help design, build, and improve the reliable and secure systems that support satellite and ground infrastructure.

This is a hands-on engineering role focused on backend systems, platform engineering, observability, and infrastructure-aware software development. You'll work closely with software, infrastructure, and cybersecurity teams to implement scalable solutions that support operational reliability and secure engineering practices.

We are not looking for a dedicated cybersecurity specialist. Instead, we're seeking an experienced software engineer who has worked alongside security teams and has experience implementing technical requirements related to security, reliability, and compliance within production systems.

This role is best suited to engineers who enjoy solving technically challenging problems and have experience working on complex systems in industries such as aerospace, scientific computing, telecommunications, biotech, robotics, or other high-reliability environments.

What You'll Do

• Design, develop, and maintain backend services and platform tooling
• Collaborate with cybersecurity and infrastructure teams to implement secure engineering requirements
• Contribute to modernising services, container environments, and CI/CD workflows
• Improve telemetry, monitoring, logging, and observability across production systems
• Support cloud-based infrastructure and deployment workflows in AWS environments
• Participate in code reviews, architecture discussions, and engineering best practices
• Work across infrastructure, backend systems, and operational tooling in a collaborative engineering environment

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience
• Strong Python development skills
• Experience with at least one compiled language such as Rust, C++, Go, Java, or C
• Strong backend engineering experience building and maintaining production systems
• Experience working with AWS-based environments (GCP experience also considered)
• Experience with containers, CI/CD pipelines, and modern software delivery practices
• Comfortable working in Linux-based development environments
• Strong understanding of systems engineering, performance, reliability, and operational concerns
• Experience collaborating with infrastructure and/or cybersecurity teams to implement technical requirements
• Strong communication and documentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in aerospace, scientific computing, biotech, telecommunications, robotics, or other technically complex industries
• Experience in smaller engineering organisations where engineers wear multiple hats across development and operations
• Familiarity with Kubernetes, Terraform, and infrastructure-as-code approaches
• Experience with PostgreSQL or other relational databases
• Experience building observability or telemetry solutions using tools such as Grafana, Databricks, or Elasticsearch
• Familiarity with GitHub Actions or modern CI/CD tooling
• Exposure to secure software development or DevSecOps practices
• Advanced academic research background (PhD/Postdoc) in engineering, physics, computer science, or related scientific disciplines

What We're Looking For

• Curious and adaptable
• Pragmatic problem-solvers
• Interested in complex systems and infrastructure
• Open to learning new technologies and domains
• Collaborative and low-ego
• Comfortable operating in fast-moving engineering environments

This role is primarily backend and platform focused, with an emphasis on backend and systems experience rather than frontend-heavy backgrounds.

Spire operates a hybrid work model, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Access to US export-controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, the necessary licenses will be arranged.

Salary Range

$130,500—$171,000 USD

Global Perks

• Name Your Satellite Program (NYSP) Launch Attendance
• Generous Time Off Policy
• Education Assistance Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
• Family Leave
• Fitness Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• Healthy snacks & beverages in every office