Ground Software Engineer

About the role

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

We are looking for a Ground Software Engineer to develop the software that handles, processes, and delivers mission data across our satellite ground network. You will build systems that ingest data from our modems, interpret CCSDS protocols, process telemetry and command data, and reliably route information between spacecraft operators and their missions.

You will own critical components of the communications data path—from protocol implementation and real-time stream processing through integration testing and operational deployment. You will work closely with DSP, FPGA, infrastructure, and customer-facing engineers to turn customer communication requirements into reliable, production-ready software.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Design, build, and maintain software for ingesting, processing, and routing telemetry, tracking, and command data

- Implement and validate CCSDS protocols, including space packets, transfer frames, synchronization, and data encapsulation

- Develop high-performance data pipelines connecting software-defined radios, ground-station infrastructure, and customer endpoints

- Build tooling for packet parsing, frame validation, buffering, recording, replay, monitoring, and debugging

- Translate customer mission requirements into configurable data-handling workflows and interfaces

- Collaborate with DSP and FPGA engineers to define and validate the interfaces between physical-layer processing and higher-level communications software

- Test communications workflows using simulated, hardware-in-the-loop, and live satellite data

- Own software through development, deployment, operational validation, and ongoing mission support

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- Bachelor’s degree with 2–5+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree with 1–4+ years of experience, in computer science, electrical engineering, telecommunications, or a related field

- Strong programming skills in a systems-oriented language such as Rust, C++, or Go

- Experience developing software for networking, telecommunications, real-time data processing, or distributed systems

- Solid understanding of network protocols, binary data formats, serialization, buffering, and asynchronous data processing

- Experience building and debugging software across system boundaries, including hardware, networks, and external interfaces

- Demonstrated ownership of a production software system from initial design through deployment and operational use

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

- Experience implementing or working with CCSDS standards, including Space Packet Protocol, TM, TC, or AOS transfer frames

- Familiarity with satellite telemetry and command systems, ground stations, or mission operations

- Experience with CCSDS File Delivery Protocol, Space Link Extension services, or related mission-data interfaces

- Experience building high-throughput, low-latency, or fault-tolerant data pipelines

- Familiarity with TCP, UDP, multicast, gRPC, WebSockets, or message-oriented architectures

- Experience integrating software with SDRs, modems, FPGA-based systems, or other communications hardware

- Experience with packet capture, protocol analysis, data replay, hardware-in-the-loop testing, or communications-system simulation

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., 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.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.