Software Engineer - RFGL Systems

Aperture Cloud Global is a space-to-cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi-purpose constellation of satellites. We are hiring a Software Engineer to join our US-focused RFGL (Radio Frequency Geolocation) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) product team. This role is not the algorithmic or scientific core of our geolocation capability (that sits with our Principal RF Engineer and research team). Instead, you will own the operational side: deploying and maintaining production RFGL/SIGINT software systems on AWS, handling data pipelines and integrations (internal + customer-facing), building monitoring tooling and automation, supporting satellite tasking workflows, and troubleshooting/fixing issues across payloads, ground systems, and infrastructure to drive RFGL product success for commercial, government, and defense customers. ITAR restrictions apply to the work performed on this team. You will work under the direct supervision and mentorship of a senior software engineer on a small, high-impact team. This is an early-to-mid-career hands-on role ideal for someone who thrives in iterative, production-focused environments and wants to contribute meaningfully to mission-critical space systems without needing deep RF estimation theory expertise upfront. What You'll Do: Deploy, maintain, and monitor RFGL and SIGINT software products in AWS production environments, ensuring high availability and performance for real customers Build and improve data handling pipelines, integrations with Aperture Cloud internal systems, and customer-facing data delivery platforms Develop tooling and automation for production monitoring, alerting, logging, and operational observability Support satellite tasking operations and command workflows that enable RF geolocation missions Investigate and resolve bugs, performance issues, or enhancement needs in satellite payload software, ground systems, and related infrastructure Collaborate closely with the senior software engineer, RF domain experts, and cross-functional teams to implement incremental improvements that directly enhance RFGL product reliability and capability Contribute to infrastructure automation, CI/CD processes, and secure deployment practices in a regulated environment Required Qualifications: 2–5 years of professional software engineering experience (or equivalent academic + internship/project work for strong early-career candidates) Demonstrated hands-on experience with AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda, ECS/EKS, CloudWatch, IAM, or similar services) — this is critical Proficiency in Python for scripting, automation, data processing, and backend tooling Solid Linux fundamentals (administration, bash scripting, system troubleshooting) Experience building or maintaining production systems with a focus on reliability, monitoring, and operational excellence Strong communication skills and comfort working collaboratively in a small team under senior guidance Preferred Qualifications: (These are differentiators) Security background or experience implementing secure engineering practices, compliance controls, or working in regulated/government environments Background with big data systems, pipelines, or tools (e.g., Spark, Kafka, Databricks, S3-based data lakes) Infrastructure-as-Code experience (Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation, etc.) Prior exposure to space, aerospace, satellite operations, ground stations, or related domains Familiarity with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, etc.), or observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack) Any experience reading/debugging C++ or embedded systems code (helpful for payload/ground system work) Aperture Cloud operates a hybrid work model, and this position will require you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office. Access to US export-controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Aperture Cloud will arrange the necessary licenses—this is not something candidates need to have before applying. #LI-MK1 The anticipated base salary range for this position is listed below. Final base salary for this role will be based on the location, skills, experience and qualifications. In addition to base compensation, this role is eligible for commissions and annual equity awards. This role is also eligible for our employee benefits program, including vacation, sick, and personal time off; optional medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage; a 401(K) plan; health and wellness reimbursement program; and participation in Aperture Cloud’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Base Salary Range $90,000 — $130,500 USD Global Perks 🛰️ Name Your Satellite Program (NYSP) 🚀 Launch Attendance 🌴 Generous Time Off Policy 🎓 Education Assistance Program 🥰 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 📈 Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) 👣 Family Leave 💪 Fitness Reimbursement 🧡 Employee Referral Program 🍉 Healthy snacks & beverages in every office About Aperture Cloud We improve life on Earth with data from space. Aperture Cloud Global is a space-to-cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi-purpose constellation of satellites. Its proprietary data and algorithms provide the most advanced maritime, aviation, and weather tracking in the world. In addition to its constellation, Aperture Cloud’s data infrastructure includes a global ground station network and 24/7 operations that provide real-time global coverage of every point on Earth. Aperture Cloud is Global and our success draws upon the diverse viewpoints, skills and experiences of our employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status. To help maintain a safe and secure workplace for Aperture Cloud employees, all candidates who receive a conditional offer will be required to complete a background check . This may include criminal history and employment verification. Please take a moment to review Aperture Cloud's Global Data Privacy Notice for Employees, Contractors, Candidates and Visitors , as well as Aperture Cloud's Privacy Policy. Kindly be advised that communication regarding your application may come from @spire.com, @recruiting.spire.com, or from Candidate.fyi (our scheduling tool).