Onboard Software Engineer - Deployment & Runtime Environments

The role

You will build and maintain the software that runs on Loft's satellites. The work covers package and deployment tooling, the Linux system on the satellite, and the container environment that lets partner and customer workloads run in orbit.

What you will do

• Contribute to and evolve the bundle management tool that resolves dependencies and assembles mission-specific software stacks
• Develop and harden the onboard Linux infrastructure, including service deployment and recoverable operation in orbit
• Evolve the Runtime Container Environment, including the container manager, base images and container registry service
• Support scaling of the deployment pipeline as new hardware platforms and satellite programs are added
• Contribute to Product Validation, the last step before software goes to orbit
• Drive features from concept through delivery with a high degree of ownership
• Take part in code reviews, design proposals and improvement of development processes

Required qualifications

• Strong understanding of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes, or similar runtimes)
• Deep Linux system knowledge: boot process, service management, filesystem layout and failure recovery
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines (GitLab-CI, Jenkins, or similar)
• Proficiency with Git and collaborative development workflows
• Experience with embedded or resource-constrained systems
• Working Python

Nice to have

• Understanding of deployment strategies for critical or hard-to-reach systems, such as OTA updates, golden images, A/B partitions, staged rollouts and safe rollback
• C++ knowledge
• Experience with CUE (cuelang)
• Familiarity with Go or Rust
• Experience with embedded Linux: Yocto, device trees, systemd and Linux on ARM
• Proficiency with unit test frameworks (e.g., pytest, Googletest, Unity)
• Experience with middleware frameworks (gRPC, ZMQ/NATS, etc.)

Benefits

• 100% company-paid medical, dental and vision for you and your dependents
• 100% company-paid life, AD&D and disability insurance
• Fully paid parental leave: 16 weeks for birthing parents, 10 weeks for non-birthing parents
• Flexible time off and 12 paid holidays
• HSA with employer contribution, FSAs and commuter benefits
• Carrot Fertility, One Medical and a free Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k) and equity
• Daily catered lunches and snacks in office
• Annual company off-site and regular social events
• International exposure to the team in France
• Relocation assistance when applicable

Before you apply

• Attach your resume in English
• Relocation assistance is offered when applicable

About the company

Loft provides governments, companies and research institutions with end-to-end missions in orbit, from satellite integration and launch to operation. Founded in 2017, it has flown more than 30 missions and plans a fleet of 30 satellites by 2027.