Senior Software Engineer (Secret Clearance Required)

Turion Space • Irvine, CA

1d • $140,000 - $213,000

About The Position

At Turion Space, you'll join a dynamic team dedicated to pioneering space technology and innovation. As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll architect the systems that control spacecraft in orbit, build the AI infrastructure that makes satellites autonomous, and create the platform that will power the commercial space economy. This isn't just another SaaS job. You'll build Mission Control systems that operators use to command real satellites, process downlinks from space, and make split-second decisions that affect millions of dollars of hardware flying at 17,500 mph. What You'll Actually Build: Next-Generation Mission Control Systems Architect the future of spacecraft operations—think SpaceX-level mission control, but as a platform for the entire industry Build real-time systems that visualize satellite constellations, predict orbital mechanics, and automate complex mission sequences Create interfaces that let operators control multiple spacecraft simultaneously with the ease of managing cloud infrastructure Design systems that scale from single satellites to mega-constellations of thousands Mission Intelligence & Automation Support autonomous operations - Support ML models for real-time debris avoidance, anomaly detection, and autonomous retasking based on threats or opportunities Integrate space domain awareness ML - Detect and characterize unknown satellites, track missiles, and identify adversarial maneuvers using computer vision and RF fingerprinting Scale to millions of objects - Build hyper-performance systems tracking everything from debris to spacecraft across multiple sensor modalities Universal Autonomy Platform - Create APIs that let any company add autonomous capabilities to their operations, making autonomous operations the industry standard The Commercial Space Platform Build the end-to-end platform powering Turion's commercial operations and our customers' Design APIs for satellite tasking that let customers request imagery as easily as calling an Uber Architect uplink/downlink processing systems that handle terabytes of space data daily Create the infrastructure for mission planning across constellations—coordinating Earth observation, non-Earth imaging, and communications satellites Build the Stripe/AWS of space—the platform every space company will use to operate their missions Your Mission: Lead the engineering effort to transform how humanity operates in space. You'll own the full stack—from React interfaces that operators love, to distributed systems processing satellite commands, to APIs that make space accessible to any developer. Your code will literally control spacecraft and enable missions that protect national security, monitor climate change, and expand human presence beyond Earth.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field, or equivalent practical experience
• 5+ years of software development experience, with a track record of leading projects or teams
• Expertise in full-stack development and proven ability to design, build, and test complex systems
• Experience with cloud-native architectures, microservices, and distributed systems
• Ability to be on call for mission-critical operations (yes, satellites don't sleep)
• Active DoD Secret Clearance required. Top Secret (TS/SCI‑eligible) clearance preferred

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency in Go, Python, or JavaScript/TypeScript, with strong API development experience
• PostgreSQL, Clickhouse, or MySQL expertise—our satellites generate a lot of telemetry
• Advanced React knowledge for building operator interfaces that visualize space in real-time
• Production experience with systems that can't go down
• Familiarity with NoSQL databases for handling unstructured data
• Kubernetes experience
• AWS experience (EKS, EC2, Batch, S3, Lambda)
• Experience with data engineering and real-time processing
• Passion for space exploration and building humanity's future beyond Earth

Responsibilities

• Lead the software engineering process from concept to orbit-ready systems, setting technical direction for products that operate spacecraft
• Mentor and guide a team of engineers building some of the most complex software on (and off) Earth
• Engage with satellite operators and mission planners to understand their needs, turning space operations challenges into elegant software solutions
• Architect mission-critical systems including next-gen Mission Control, AI inference platforms, and commercial space APIs
• Build and maintain APIs that let any developer integrate space capabilities into their applications
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Astrodynamics, Flight Software, Hardware, AI researchers, and spacecraft operators
• Drive architectural decisions for systems that must be more reliable than traditional tech—there's no re-deploying a satellite
• Deliver solutions that simplify space operations , making controlling satellites as intuitive as deploying to AWS

Benefits

• Equity: Receive equity in Turion Space, letting you benefit from the company's success
• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their dependents.
• Retirement Plans: Access to a 401(k) plan to help you plan for your future.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, sick days, and holidays to ensure you have time to recharge.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing training, workshops, and courses to advance your skills and career growth.
• Team Building Activities: Regular social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities to foster a positive work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees