Software Engineer

About Capella

Capella, an IonQ company, builds trusted space systems that deliver secure, rapid, and actionable Earth intelligence to amplify decision-making for allied partners. As the first U.S. company to launch and operate a commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation, Capella provides precise, high-resolution radar imagery in any condition—day or night, through clouds, smoke, and darkness. Capella is defining the future of space-based intelligence through a vertically integrated approach that spans spacecraft design, advanced radar payloads, manufacturing, automated tasking, and low-latency delivery of mission-ready data. Capella designs for the realities of modern defense and intelligence: speed, sovereignty, and resilience. Powered by IonQ, Capella is creating the world’s first quantum-enabled Earth observation network—transforming how intelligence is delivered through innovation, speed, and trust. This next-generation architecture will provide governments and global partners with a decisive edge: the ability to see, decide, and act with confidence in any environment.   

Capella was named one of Fast Company’s 10 Most Innovative Companies in Space in 2023 and is a trusted partner of the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office, and allied government agencies worldwide. Built In recognized IonQ on three of its 2025 Best Places to Work lists.

What Makes Capella Unique?

Capella, an IonQ company, spans national security, advanced sensing, and next-generation compute to deliver secure, mission-ready intelligence. Capella’s culture is built on collaboration, rigorous engineering, and a shared commitment to delivering solutions that strengthens global stability and security. Team members work side-by-side with some of the most innovative minds in space systems, quantum-enabled technologies, and mission-critical operations. Capella values curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to tackle hard problems with precision and creativity. Capella welcomes and encourages applicants whose perspectives are historically underrepresented in technology, national security, and aerospace. No prior space experience is required.  Diverse viewpoints strengthen Capella’s ability to innovate and to deliver meaningful impact for partners worldwide.

About the Role & Team 

As a Tasking & Scheduling Software Engineer at Capella, you will play a crucial role in designing, implementing, and maintaining the automated operations system for our satellite constellation. You will have the opportunity to work on a diverse set of impactful and engaging technical problems that draw from principles in software engineering, physics, mathematics and optimization. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to develop software solutions and apply cutting-edge mathematical and optimization techniques to automate the planning, scheduling and commanding of our SAR constellation. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the advancement of space technology and play a key role in the success of Capella.

We are hiring multiple engineers across various levels of experience.

Role Responsibilities

• Design and implement systems that directly impact Capella's tasking & scheduling operations
• Collaborate with Tasking & Scheduling engineers to design, develop, and test software solutions
• Write clean, efficient, and maintainable code
• Research and apply software and engineering best practices
• Extract and analyze data to measure the success of the constellation automated operations
• Participate in code reviews
• Work and communicate effectively as part of a cross-functional team
• Assist with documentation and technical support
• Optimize system performance and reliability

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Statistics, or a related field
• Proficiency in programming languages: Python (required), Rust, Java, or C++
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Experience with cloud-based distributed systems and microservices (e.g., AWS, Azure)
  • Lambda
  • S3
  • EKS
  • SQS
• Knowledge of data storage and processing technologies
  
  • SQL
  • MongoDB
  • InfluxDB
  • Kafka
• Familiarity with containerization and orchestration platforms (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git)., gitlab and CI/CD pipelines
• Eagerness to learn new skills and technologies
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITARhere.

Nice-to-Have

• Data structures and algorithms coursework
• Aerospace and navigation control coursework
• Mathematical optimization: linear programming coursework
• Data Science, Machine Learning, or Data Analytics coursework

Compensation

The annual salary range for this role as it is posted is $125,863 - $132,329. The final job level and annual salary will be determined based on the education, qualification, knowledge, skills, ability, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location and calibrated against relevant market data and internal team equity.  Benefits listed in this posting may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Capella.

Benefits/Perks

In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We provide extensive medical coverage, including strong vision and dental plans, flexible spending accounts, and additional supplemental health options.
• Paid Flexible Time Off Policy
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match to help you invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Parental Leave program
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Commuter & Parking Benefits
• Mental Health Resources
• Monthly Phone Stipend
• Furry friends? We’ve got you covered with dog-friendly work environment & them with pet insurance options 

Equal Opportunity Statement

Capella is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you need assistance or require an accommodation during the job application process, please notify [email protected]

To learn more about us, explore our site: https://www.capellaspace.com/ and follow us on X and LinkedInto see our SAR imagery!