Jobs at Loft Orbital

Own mission-level electrical systems for assigned spacecraft programs: integrate payloads, design wiring harnesses, allocate/distribute power, create interconnect diagrams and requirements, interpret ICDs and EMI/EMC test plans, support CD&H architecture, and collaborate with board designers and program teams while stepping into board-level design as needed.

Hands-on senior electrical engineer responsible for end-to-end board and power supply design, interfacing with mechanical, systems, and program teams, supporting multiple bus protocols and space vehicle subsystems, and providing electrical-systems support such as harness schematics and ICDs.

Lead technical authority for optical payloads and image quality across Earth observation missions. Define mission and payload requirements, drive supplier development and test, create calibration and data-processing strategies, support integration, launch, and in-orbit commissioning, and collaborate with mission, AIT, OPS, and customers to deliver calibrated imagery products.

Build and operate backend services for Loft's Oort platform, designing APIs and database interactions, integrating tools and data across teams, partnering with stakeholders to translate mission processes into reliable software, and iterating with a product mindset to reduce operational complexity.

Design and optimize manufacturing processes for satellite components, collaborate with cross-functional teams on manufacturing strategies, lead continuous improvement and root-cause analysis, implement corrective actions, and provide technical support and troubleshooting to production teams.

Manage subcontract lifecycle for strategic space suppliers: negotiate and execute multi‑million contracts, control changes, monitor supplier performance against schedule/cost/quality, assess and mitigate supply‑chain risks, ensure contractual/export‑control compliance, coordinate milestones and acceptance, and support BD and approved vendor strategy.

Build and maintain backend microservices that command, monitor, and automate satellites. Own Python services end-to-end, design APIs, handle commands and telemetry, integrate with flight and ground systems, support internal users, and occasionally participate in live spacecraft operations and incident response.

Design, implement, and maintain onboard software packaging, deployment, and runtime infrastructure for satellites. Work across bundle management, Linux rootfs and service management, container runtime/environment and registries, CI/CD pipelines, and product validation to ensure reliable, secure execution of customer workloads in orbit.

Lead assembly, integration, and testing of RF subsystems for spacecraft. Develop test plans, execute RF performance and environmental tests (thermal vacuum, vibration, EMI/EMC), troubleshoot hardware, analyze and report results, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize RF system performance and ensure flight readiness.

Own and operate Loft's cloud and hybrid network infrastructure: design architectures, secure connectivity, manage network-as-code (IaC), define SLOs and observability, automate toil, and participate in SRE incident response and platform reliability.

Manage evaluation, negotiation, execution and lifecycle of critical sub-contracts with strategic suppliers. Oversee supplier performance, change control, compliance, risk mitigation, and integration with program schedules and quality requirements to support aerospace hardware production and testing.

Manage full sales lifecycle for Loft's space mission services across the Americas: generate and qualify leads, develop proposals, negotiate contracts, and support accounts during program execution. Collaborate with sales engineering, product, and engineering teams to craft mission solutions for commercial and institutional customers.

Lead the architecture of Loft's offering across ground, space, software, and hardware. Define capability allocation, interfaces, and requirements; shape ground tools and customer integration; coordinate cross-functional teams; produce CONOPS/ICDs and architecture notes; ensure scalable, reusable solutions and guide cross-cutting technical decisions.

Lead ADCS performance, define guidance and attitude control requirements, develop and validate guidance algorithms, coordinate with bus suppliers, support customers and on-orbit operations, diagnose and resolve ADCS anomalies, and build common guidance services across multiple spacecraft platforms.

Define and own integrated system design for the Hub across ground, space, software, and hardware. Translate concepts into technical specifications, manage requirements, ICDs, CONOPS, trade studies, and design reviews. Drive verification, validation, and modular integration; partner with hardware, software, and product teams to ensure clean interfaces and product-quality through development into operations.

Open general application for Loft. Candidates are encouraged to apply even if no posted role matches. Preference for on-site work in San Francisco, Golden (CO), or Toulouse, but distributed candidates accepted. Resume in English required; applications may not receive immediate response and are monitored intermittently. Company provides benefits, relocation assistance when applicable, and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds.

Develop and maintain mission-specific ground software, configure and extend Loft's Cockpit for customers, implement features for physical and virtual missions, troubleshoot integrations and live mission issues, and participate in satellite operations and commissioning.

Build and refine Cockpit, Loft's satellite operations web app: develop and maintain SPAs, integrate with GraphQL backends, collaborate on UI/UX, write unit and integration tests, support internal teams, and participate in satellite operations.

Lead design, implementation, and operation of scalable, secure hybrid-cloud infrastructure for satellite ground systems. Improve developer experience, automate CI/CD and IaC, own observability, troubleshoot reliability issues, and collaborate with developers and satellite operators to advance SatDevOps practices.