Backend Engineer - Mission Operations Services (Python)

Location: San Francisco, CA; on-site

Salary: $140,000–$190,000 per year

Company

hirify.global provides end-to-end spacecraft missions as a service for governments, companies, and research institutions, integrating, launching, and operating satellite missions.

What you will do

• Design and build backend services for satellite passes, autopilots, activities, and daily mission operations.
• Handle commands and telemetry across multiple satellite buses and ground segment providers, emphasizing safety, robustness, and observability.
• Write and maintain production Python services throughout their full lifecycle, from design and implementation through deployment.
• Collaborate with flight software, embedded systems, integration and test, and space infrastructure teams to integrate new satellite capabilities.
• Improve Cockpit APIs, workflows, and debugging tools for operators, test engineers, and solutions engineers.
• Participate in SatDevOps rotations, anomaly investigations, and real-time incident response during spacecraft operations.

Requirements

• 4+ years of relevant backend software engineering experience in production environments.
• Solid production experience with Python.
• Experience with Docker and container-based development.
• Hands-on experience with backend web frameworks such as Django, Flask, or FastAPI.
• Proven experience designing, documenting, and maintaining HTTP, GraphQL, or REST-style APIs.

Nice to have

• Experience with Django and/or GraphQL.
• Strong database fundamentals, including PostgreSQL or time-series databases.
• Production experience with Kubernetes.
• Familiarity with InfluxDB, TimescaleDB, or other time-series systems.
• Experience with mission-critical, distributed, or real-time systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Hands-on work connecting backend systems directly to spacecraft operations.
• SatDevOps training and opportunities to operate spacecraft.
• Collaboration across backend, flight software, embedded systems, testing, and satellite operations.
• Work within a growing fleet and space infrastructure organization.