Onboard Software Engineer - Deployment & Runtime Environments Verified today
About this role
Loft's Onboard Software group provides the on-orbit software powering our satellite fleet, from Linux services on the hub processor to containerized workloads running customer applications in low Earth orbit.
The Deployment & Runtime Environments team owns how software gets packaged, deployed, and executed onboard. You will work on:
- Bundle management tool that resolves package dependencies and assembles mission-specific software stacks
- Onboard Linux infrastructure: service deployment, system management, and reliable operation in orbit
- Runtime Container Environment enabling partner and customer workloads to run securely onboard
- Scaling the deployment pipeline as new hardware platforms and satellite programs come online
- Product Validation as the final step before software goes to orbit
You will design, implement, and refine software with high ownership, moving between Linux internals, container runtimes, and CI pipelines. You participate in code reviews, design proposals, and continuous process improvement.
Must have
- 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 software deployment strategies for critical or hard-to-reach systems (OTA updates, golden images, A/B partitions, staged rollouts, 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 platforms
- Proficiency with unit test frameworks (pytest, Googletest, Unity)
- Experience with middleware frameworks (gRPC, ZMQ/NATS)
Benefits
- 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contribution
- 100% employer-paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability insurance
- Flexible Time Off policy and 12 paid holidays
- 401(k) plan and equity options
- Daily catered lunches and snacks in office
- Fully paid parental leave: 14 weeks for birthing parent, 10 weeks for non-birthing parent
- Carrot Fertility benefits with financial support
- Relocation assistance when applicable
- Off-sites and social events