Build the Data Infrastructure That Powers Insights from Space
Xplore is a highly differentiated, venture-backed commercial space company. We design, build, and operate satellites and sensors that collect high-fidelity Earth observation data, enabling insights that support social, economic, environmental, and security outcomes across the globe.
Every image we collect is trillions of spectral data points - revealing the physical and chemical state of Earth in ways conventional imaging cannot. Our multi-sensor satellite captures and combines multi-modal remote sensing data with edge computing and high-throughput communications capabilities to generate spatial insights for our customers around the world.
In this position, you will play a role in developing and scaling the software that powers our data processing pipelines. You will be responsible for building robust, scalable systems that support low latency satellite tasking, telemetry, data automation, and image processing workflows. You’ll take ownership of complex technical challenges, ensuring high performance, reliability, and efficiency in delivering space-based data solutions.
The Mission
We are hiring a Senior Full Stack Developer to lead the design and development of scalable data infrastructure powering Xplore’s satellite operations and Earth observation platform.
Preferred Job Locations
Resident In State of Illinois: Remote with min. 6 – 8 multi-day trips to Xplore HQ per year.
Resident In State of Massachusetts: Remote with min. 6 – 8 multi-day trips to Xplore HQ per year.
What You Will Build
- Satellite operations and data processing pipelines
- Integrations with global ground station networks
- Robust, scalable systems supporting satellite tasking, telemetry, and data automation
- Image processing workflows for Earth observation data
- High-performance, reliable data solutions delivering space-based insights
- What You Will Own
Data Pipeline Architecture & Development
- Design, build, and maintain scalable cloud-native data pipelines
- Architect event-driven systems and high-volume data processing infrastructure
- Optimize cloud-based infrastructure on Amazon Web Services (ECS, S3, SQS)
- Develop containerized application deployments and real-time data pipelines
Satellite Operations & Integrations
- Build and maintain integrations with global ground station networks
- Develop satellite tasking, telemetry, and command software
- Automate data ingestion, processing, and delivery workflows
- Support image processing pipelines for hyperspectral Earth observation data
System Ownership & Execution
- Independently lead development efforts and ship high-quality code
- Manage shifting priorities in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
- Take technical ownership from architecture through deployment
- Collaborate with spacecraft, payload, and mission engineering teams to ensure flight readiness
Your work will directly influence our ability to collect, process, and deliver high-fidelity Earth observation data from orbit.
Requirements
- U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
- Educational Background:Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Aerospace, Data Science, or a related field.
- Professional Experience: At least 5 years of hands-on experience in software development, focusing on cloud-native applications, distributed systems, and backend infrastructure.
Proficiency in:
- Kotlin and TypeScript, with Python experience
- Amazon Web Services, especially ECS, S3, and SQS
- Containerized applications
- Real-time data pipelines
- System Architecture Knowledge: Strong background in designing, scaling, and optimizing cloud-based infrastructure, event-driven systems, and high-volume data processing.
Ownership & Execution: Ability to independently lead development efforts, ship high-quality code, and manage shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate brings strong technical chops and a quiet confidence—ready to step up and lead when the moment calls for it, and equally ready to listen and learn.
You’ll Impress Us Even More If You Have
- Experience with Rust
- Experience with Ray Data Pipelines
- Astrodynamics, GNC, or physics experience for satellite simulations
- Experience in migration of systems to new languages/frameworks/infrastructures and high-level knowledge of multiple languages and frameworks to assist in migration efforts
Additional Requirements
- Availability to support critical integration, testing, or launch activities outside standard working hours when required
Why This Role Is Different
- You will build data infrastructure that powers real spacecraft operations
- You will work across cloud, edge, and satellite data domains
- You will build mission-critical pipelines that process data collected from orbit
- You will work in a high-agency engineering environment where ownership matters
- Your software will connect space hardware to real-world Earth observation insights
This is a builder’s role.
What Success Looks Like (First 6 Months)
- You have taken technical ownership of one or more data pipeline systems supporting satellite tasking, telemetry, or image processing.
- You have built or meaningfully improved scalable cloud-native data pipelines that deliver Earth observation data reliably and efficiently.
- You have resolved early integration challenges between ground station networks, satellite operations software, and cloud infrastructure.
- You have delivered production-ready pipeline improvements that directly support active satellite missions.
- You have built automation, monitoring, or validation tooling that improves data engineering velocity and reliability.
- You have become a trusted technical contributor across spacecraft, payload, and software teams, helping shape data architecture for future missions.
Benefits
Pay Range, Compensation and Benefits: USD $130k – $180k / per year
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your Total Rewards at Xplore. As an employee, you will also receive access to comprehensive 100% company-funded medical, vision, and dental coverage, life and ADD insurance for you and your qualified dependents, and various other company perks such as free beverages and snacks, weekly team lunches, regular team outings, and special rewards. Additionally, Xplore offers an equity incentive plan (ESOP) for qualified full-time employees.
The HSA qualified health plan is available for full-time employees working 30 hours or more per week.
Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays) Each full-time employee earns PTO at a rate of 1.33 days per month, and a minimum of 13 paid federal holidays are provided each year for full-time employees. Note: Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law.
Who Thrives at Xplore
Xplore is built around curious, driven engineers and builders who want to put real hardware in space and see it work.
Our team members:
- Are energized by building, launching, and operating spacecraft
- Enjoy tackling hard technical problems that require creativity, persistence, and teamwork
- Thrive in an environment surrounded by high-performing peers who push each other to do their best work
- Take pride in designing systems that move from idea to hardware to orbit
- Approach challenges with intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and a strong sense of ownership
- Inside the office, we push each other to become better engineers and better problem-solvers every day. Curiosity doesn’t stop when the workday ends—space is an exciting field, and new ideas tend to surface in hallway conversations, over whiteboards, or while debugging hardware late in the lab.
- We take our work seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. Humor, creativity, and curiosity are part of the culture.
- Outside of work you’ll find teammates who play music, experiment with hydroponics, train for endurance races, build elaborate LEGO creations, explore geocaching trails, photograph national parks, and pursue all kinds of technical and creative hobbies.
- We’re a tight-knit group that loves what we do—and the people we do it with.
Why Join Now
- Spacecraft already on orbit
- Constellation scaling underway
- Expanding government and commercial demand
- Next-generation mission architecture in development
The engineers who join at this stage will define how Xplore operates for the next decade.
If you’re ready to build the data infrastructure that powers spacecraft operations, process petabytes of Earth observation data, and architect systems that scale—we want to talk.
More About Xplore
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EEO/Additional Requirements
Xplore is an equal opportunity employer; employment with Xplore is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
This employer participates in E-Verify. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. All persons hired will be required to be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.