Senior Software Backend Engineer, Space Operations Intelligence & Autonomy (SOIA)

Meet Slingshot

At Slingshot Aerospace, we're on a mission to make space safer and more secure for everyone. Our work directly impacts global security, disaster response, climate monitoring, and the critical infrastructure that connects our world. We're a team of builders, thinkers, and problem-solvers who believe that the next generation of space operations will be powered by better data and smarter software.

We move fast, we're not afraid to fail, and we believe the best ideas can come from anywhere - whether you're in engineering, sales, product, or operations. If you want to work on something that truly matters, with people who care deeply about the impact we're making and help shape the future of an industry that's just getting started, you're in the right place.

About Space Operations Intelligence & Autonomy (SOIA)

Space Operations Intelligence & Autonomy (SOIA) is the core of Slingshot’s mission. It includes the systems and software that enable satellites, operators, and constellations to understand their environment, anticipate behavior, and act autonomously in dynamic space conditions. Our capabilities span real-time domain awareness, high volume event detection, autonomous maneuver planning, AI-driven behavior modeling, anomaly detection, risk assessment, and high-fidelity simulation environments. Together, these form the intelligence and autonomy stack powering safer, smarter, and more resilient space operations.

What You’ll Be Launching

As a Senior Backend Software Engineer, you’ll build the distributed systems, data platforms, and real-time services that drive Slingshot’s intelligence, autonomy, and simulation products. Your work will enable advanced space domain awareness, autonomous maneuver planning, high-fidelity event detection, and mission ready training environments for national security and commercial customers. You’ll influence architectural direction, mentor teammates, collaborate with AI/ML and autonomy engineers, and turn complex operational needs into scalable, high reliability software that directly supports the safety and resilience of space operations.

Your Mission (Should you choose to accept it)

Execute all position responsibilities in alignment with Slingshot’s core values, mission, and purpose

Work across the technology team with product managers, designers, and engineers to build rightsized solutions that advance Slingshot’s SOIA capabilities

Meet product requirements in a timely manner while not compromising operational stability

Participate in Agile software development and deployment processes

Provide ongoing support for services and applications that are mission critical to real-time space operations intelligence

Communicate methods, findings, and hypotheses with stakeholders

Work across backend services to deliver value to internal and external users

Build data platforms/pipelines, microservices, interactions with AI agents, and distributed systems powering SOIA workflows

Build and document APIs (REST, GraphQL) supporting high volume, real-time data flows

Develop advanced data interfaces and interactive user experiences that streamline operator decision cycles

Turn architecture ideas into technical specifications that can be executed by anyone on the team

Pre-flight Checklist

5+ years of experience in software development

4-year degree in computer science, engineering, or related field

Active security clearance required; Top Secret preferred

Experience using our stack or similar technologies (Java/Kotlin, GraphQL/GraphQL subscriptions, REST, Docker, Kubernetes, React, Python)

Adept in working with cloud-based deployments (AWS) including PaaS and IaaS offerings and Infrastructure-as-Code

Capable working with containers and container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, Helm, EKS)

Deep working knowledge of version control (Git) and CI/CD tools (GitHub Actions)

Experience with event-driven architectures including Kafka and CloudEvents, data platforms, microservices, and distributed systems

Knowledge of database design, performance, and troubleshooting (PostgreSQL, MongoDB)

Skilled in collaborating with data scientists to incorporate AI/ML/LLM into production software

Occasional travel required, maximum 10%, typically much less

Bonus Cargo

Security compliance accreditation experience (NIST80053, DoD ILs, FedRAMP)

Experience with software startups and product centric organizations

Knowledge of frontend technologies including React and Three.js

Collaboration experience with DevOps and infrastructure teams

Familiarity with QA practices

Track record of predictable software delivery with Product partners

Prior space or aerospace industry experience (bonus, not required)

Experience integrating complex external systems via APIs

Experience with simulation technologies like HLA/DIS

We’re building a constellation here, not looking for identical satellites. Every member of the team brings different capabilities to the same mission. If your orbit intersects with ours and you’re mission ready - send it.

Location: Two open roles. Strong preference for Colorado Springs, CO for both roles.

Salary Range: $150,000 - 200,000 + Benefits

US-based Candidates: we are currently only able to hire residents of the following U.S. states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, RI, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV We are unable to consider candidates residing in other U.S. states at this time.

Internationally-based Candidates: we are currently only able to hire residents of the following locations: United Kingdom. We are unable to consider candidates residing in other countries at this time.