Director of Software Engineering

Overview

Orbital Sidekick (OSK) is revolutionizing how the world understands and interacts with our planet. We are the leading hyperspectral satellite data and analytics company building the most advanced space-based infrastructure and proprietary "Spectral Intelligence™" platform. Our constellation of Global Hyperspectral Observation Satellites (GHOSt™) delivers persistent monitoring capabilities, capturing 500 bands of light to reveal the chemical fingerprints of targets on Earth. We provide actionable insights to critical sectors including Energy, Mining, Agriculture & Forestry, Environmental & Emergency Monitoring, and Defense & Security, helping our clients optimize sustainable operations, mitigate risk, and enhance situational awareness globally.

OSK is seeking a Director of Software Engineering to lead our core engineering teams responsible for SIGMA (our scalable customer-facing platform) and the Data Pipeline (our science and data processing engine). You will drive engineering excellence across both domains, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution. This role is intentionally structured as a hybrid :

75% individual contributor

— Directly designing, building, and maintaining OSK’s core platforms.

25% leadership

— Guiding a small but impactful engineering team to deliver high-quality outcomes.

The leader will be expected to move quickly and take calculated risks to deliver customer value, while maintaining a long-term view on scalability. You will also own OSK’s Jira and Scrum processes, ensuring engineering rigor, operational transparency, and consistent, reliable delivery.

This is a hands-on technical leadership role for someone passionate about geospatial platforms, data pipelines, and scalable, production-grade systems.

What You’ll Do (Technical Execution, 75%)

Design, develop, and maintain core systems across SIGMA (platform, APIs, customer delivery) and the Data Pipeline (imagery processing, derived analytics).

Write production-quality code, with a strong focus on Python for pipeline and platform development.

Support a team to deliver advanced geospatial products that are robust, scalable, and secure with a focus on data flows, APIs, infrastructure, and observability.

Own and operate OSK’s Jira Agile / Scrum process including backlog management, sprint planning, reporting, and delivery cadence.

Ensure excellence in system reliability, security, scalability, and maintainability.

Contribute directly to codebases, technical documentation, and architectural decisions.

What You’ll Do (Leadership & Collaboration, 25%)

Lead and mentor a small and growing SWE team of engineering managers (1) and engineers (8).

Set and reinforce technical direction, architectural standards, and operational best practices.

Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with Product, Analytics, and Operations teams to align objectives and delivery.

Support hiring, career growth, and a high-performing engineering culture.

What You’ll Bring

10+ years of hands-on software engineering experience, with demonstrated progression into technical leadership roles. BS in Computer Science or equivalent.

Extensive knowledge of GDAL, Rasterio, xarray, and other code libraries for handling raster data.

Experience with OGC APIs, STAC, STAPI, or similar open source geospatial technologies.

Demonstrated ability to manage ambiguity and provide clarity and direction in uncertain or rapidly evolving situations.

Expert-level proficiency in Python with hands-on experience building data pipelines, APIs, and infrastructure.

Comfortable working with AWS technologies including CDK, Lambda, S3, ECS, and RDS, as well as frameworks and tools such as Django and Terraform.

Experience building and operating customer-facing APIs, data processing systems, and platform services.

Strong background in Agile / Scrum software development with direct accountability for Jira workflows and engineering process health.

Ability to operate effectively in both IC and leadership capacities within a small, dynamic team.

Expertise in geospatial platforms and familiarity with hyperspectral data, satellite imagery, or remote sensing technologies.

Bonus Points If You Have

Background in aerospace, defense, or intelligence-focused environments.

Prior experience in a growth-stage startup or small technology company.

What We Offer

Competitive compensation and equity packages

Comprehensive health plan including health / dental / vision / wellness

Disability and Life insurance

401K program

Flexible time off

Commuter benefits

Learning and development opportunities

Monthly stipend for internet / cell phone / office expenses

Flexible in office schedule with lunch Tuesday to Thursday in the San Francisco headquarters

Off-sites and team-building activities

$175,000 - $200,000 a year

Compensation includes a competitive equity package. Final pay will depend on candidate's skills, geographic location, qualifications, and experience as defined during the interview process.

Location : San Francisco, CA (Hybrid model with a strong emphasis on collaboration in the office).

ITAR Requirements : U.S. Government space technologies export / ITAR regulations apply here, applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Orbital Sidekick is committed to building a community where everyone belongs and we invite people from all backgrounds to apply. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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