Backend Engineer - Oort

Loft Orbital Solutions•San Francisco, CA

11d•$140,000 - $190,000

About The Position

Loft Orbital is seeking a Backend Engineer to join the Oort team. Oort is Loft’s central web platform, consolidating infrastructure data and tools to help manage the mission lifecycle and connect mission phases, operational teams, and business processes. The Backend Engineer builds and operates backend-service features that collect, manage, and surface infrastructure data. The role designs APIs and integrations across tools and systems, works with stakeholders in program management, satellite engineering, operations, and business to understand processes, and translates those processes into reliable software. The engineer applies a product mindset by seeking user feedback, identifying friction in backend workflows and UI/UX, and delivering solutions that simplify work for teams building and operating space infrastructure.

Requirements

Demonstrated proficiency in Python for backend engineering.
Practical experience using Docker for containerization and deployment in scalable environments.
Experience in backend architecture, including API design and robust database interactions.
Hands-on experience building, operating, or integrating technologies for space missions, and a passion for making complex, multi-team technical endeavors more efficient and standardized.
Ability to dissect intricate business and technical processes, map them end-to-end, and identify friction points and opportunities for solutions.
Ability to work in team environments, communicate complex ideas clearly, and promote collaboration between engineering, operations, and business functions.
Proactive problem-solving skills and a willingness to respectfully challenge assumptions.
Comfort owning features from design through production operations.
Fluency in English.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the design, modeling, or analysis of space missions, with an understanding of mission lifecycle complexities.
Proficiency with Django and GraphQL, and familiarity with modern cloud infrastructure platforms such as GCP or AWS and Kubernetes.
Familiarity with testing tools across the stack, such as PyTest, Jest, React Testing Library, and Playwright or Cypress, and strong CI/CD practices.

Responsibilities

Build and operate backend-service features that collect, manage, and surface critical infrastructure data across the Loft mission lifecycle.
Design and implement APIs and integrations connecting tools and data across teams and systems.
Partner with program management, satellite engineering, operations, and business stakeholders to understand mission design, program, and business processes.
Translate stakeholder processes into intuitive, reliable software.
Seek user feedback, identify friction in backend workflows and UI/UX, and deliver solutions that reduce complexity.

Benefits

100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance option for employees and dependents.
Flexible Spending (FSA) and Health Savings (HSA) accounts, with an employer contribution to the HSA.
100% employer-paid life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability insurance.
Flexible Time Off policy for vacation and sick leave, and 12 paid holidays.
401(k) plan and equity options.
Daily catered lunches and snacks in office.
International exposure to the team in France.
Fully paid parental leave: 14 weeks for birthing parents and 10 weeks for non-birthing parents.
Carrot Fertility family-forming benefits with financial support.
Off-sites and social events and celebrations.
Relocation assistance when applicable.