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

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 buildrightsized solutions that advance Slingshot's SOIA capabilities
  * Meet product requirementsin a timely mannerwhile 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 both frontend and 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
  * Ability to travel up to 10% of the time

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.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion are key to our success. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds, who share a passion for creating a safer, more connected world. Diversity not only includes race and gender identity, but also national origin, citizenship, sex, color, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic that is part of one's identity. All of our employees' points of view are key to our success, and we embrace individuality.