Full-Time
Senior Software Engineer
Spaceops Team
Posted on 10/31/2025
Spire
501-1,000 employees
Satellite data and analytics for maritime
Compensation Overview
CA$116k - CA$152k/yr
Cambridge, ON, Canada
Hybrid
Minimum of three in-office days per week.
 Software Engineering (2) |
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- 5+ years of professional software engineering, SRE, or DevOps experience
- Strong Python skills across backend services, data pipelines, and automation. Not just scripts.
- Real experience applying data analysis to solve complex operational or technical problems, comfortable working directly with data at every layer from pipeline design to query
- Solid Linux fundamentals including bash scripting and basic system administration
- Experience with containerized development and production environments
- The communication skills to work across engineering, operations, and mission teams and translate real-world requirements into working software
- Design and build fault detection, isolation, and automated recovery pipelines for satellites and ground stations
- Drive elimination of manual processes. If a human is doing it repeatedly, automate it.
- Build space situational awareness systems so the fleet always knows its own state
- Develop operational automation for mission execution at scale
- Architect and build a flexible data platform that ingests, stores, and surfaces telemetry from space and ground assets
- Build analytics and visualization tools that surface operational insight and not just raw data
- Apply ML and AI techniques to detect anomalies, predict failures, and optimize constellation performance
- Work directly with data at every layer from pipeline design to query
- Define and instrument SLOs and reliability metrics for space and ground assets
- Build monitoring and alerting systems that know what matters and ruthlessly suppress noise
- Own configuration control and software rollout processes for on-orbit and ground assets
- Build real-time dashboards and operator tooling that make mission status immediately legible
- Collaborate directly with satellite operators and mission teams to turn operational pain into software solutions
- Design systems for automated mission execution including planning, scheduling, and commanding at scale
- Experience with data backends such as Postgres, Redis, Elasticsearch, or S3
- Hands-on experience with Databricks or modern data Lakehouse tooling
- Experience building or operating monitoring and alerting systems such as Grafana, Prometheus, or Nagios
- Infrastructure as Code experience with tools such as Terraform or Ansible
- ML or AI applications in an operational or monitoring context
- Experience with Python data visualization libraries
- Access to US export-controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Spire will arrange the necessary licenses—this is not something candidates need to have before applying.
- Canada Salary Range $116,000—$152,000 CAD
Spire Global collects and analyzes satellite data to provide real-time information for maritime tracking, weather forecasting, and global intelligence. It uses a constellation of nanosatellites to observe ship positions and weather, then downlinks data that is processed into insights delivered through APIs and data licenses. It differentiates itself with broad, real-time coverage from a large network of small satellites and API-centric data products for easy integration. Its goal is to help customers optimize operations, improve safety, and support decision-making across shipping, weather, and government intelligence.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Tysons, Virginia
Founded
2012
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Munich facility produces 100 satellites annually for European sovereign space intelligence.
- $70M funding enables expansion into agriculture, weather, and space-as-a-service markets.
- GNSS-independent aircraft geolocation via RF emissions captures defense and aviation demand.
What critics are saying
- Lost C$71.8M Canadian wildfire contract represents nine months of 2025 revenue.
- $93M negative free cash flow despite profits signals unsustainable burn rate.
- SpaceX Transporter dependency exposes constellation replenishment to pricing hikes and delays.
What makes Spire unique
- Operates 110+ CubeSats with 600+ sensors, largest commercial constellation by sensor count.
- Designs, builds, tests, and operates all satellites in-house in Glasgow and Munich.
- Deploys optical inter-satellite links reducing latency via laser crosslinks between satellites.
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Benefits
Hybrid Work Options
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Professional Development Budget
Mental Health Support
Company Equity
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 0%1 year growth
↓ -5%2 year growth
↑ 0%Spire Global has secured $70 million in a private placement. The company operates a satellite constellation that provides space-based data and analytics, offering weather intelligence, aircraft tracking and security detection services globally. Spire Global builds and operates satellites that observe earth in real time using radio frequency technology. The company also offers space-as-a-service solutions, allowing customers to leverage its infrastructure for their own operations, alongside research and development services for satellite technologies. The firm maintains operations across the United States, Canada, Luxembourg and other locations.
Spire Global has launched an expanded agriculture intelligence offering that integrates soil moisture data with weather forecasting capabilities. The solution combines over 40 years of historical records, daily satellite observations, site-specific forecasts extending up to 45 days, and AI-driven sub-seasonal guidance. The system uses proprietary Global Navigation Satellite System radio occultation and reflectometry data to provide near real-time global soil moisture observations. It can identify early signs of crop stress up to a week before visible canopy damage, enabling more efficient irrigation and water management. Delivered via API, the platform allows digital farming platforms, insurers, agribusinesses and government agencies to embed environmental intelligence into operational workflows. The solution aims to reduce reliance on hardware-based sensors whilst enabling scalable deployment across global agricultural portfolios.
Spire Global has launched a satellite as part of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's MagQuest Challenge, which offers multi-million-dollar prizes for advancing Earth's magnetic field measurement. The satellite, launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter 16 mission, combines Spire's infrastructure with SBQuantum's diamond quantum magnetometer system. MagQuest aims to improve efficiency and reliability of geomagnetic data for the World Magnetic Model, which powers navigation in mobile applications, GPS and military systems. Spire and SBQuantum will demonstrate the satellite system and provide data to NOAA and NASA for assessment over three years. The mission represents the first diamond-powered geomagnetic data collection from low Earth orbit. Results will inform NGA's acquisition strategy for global magnetic field data collection capabilities.
Three Glasgow satellites successfully deployed in major SpaceX launch. 31/03/2026 Three satellites built in Glasgow have successfully launched aboard SpaceX's Transporter-16 mission, marking a significant milestone for the city's growing space sector. Developed by Spire Global and AAC Clyde Space, the satellites highlight Glasgow's strength in spacecraft manufacturing and satellite communications, reinforcing its position as Europe's leading city for small-satellite production. The mission was backed by funding from the UK Space Agency through the European Space Agency's Pioneer Programme, part of the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme, which supports emerging UK companies to become mission providers. One of the satellites, launched by Spire Global UK, is testing optical inter-satellite link (ISL) technology, using high-speed laser crosslinks to reduce data latency. The innovation is designed to support near-real-time data delivery for aviation, maritime, weather and space weather services. Meanwhile, two satellites developed by AAC Clyde Space form part of the xSPANCION project, delivered in collaboration with partners including University of Strathclyde and the Satellite Applications Catapult. The project demonstrates the UK's capability in high-volume, low-cost satellite manufacturing and operations. These satellites will contribute to AAC Clyde Space's VIREON(TM) constellation, designed to provide space-enabled insights for agriculture, forestry and environmental management, supporting decision-making for governments and industry. The launch underscores the growing importance of satellite communications across both civil and defence applications, from broadband connectivity to secure communications. The UK Space Agency has committed more than £600m to satellite communications research and development, alongside new funding through its Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme. Together, the missions strengthen UK capability across advanced communications technologies, manufacturing and operations - while showcasing Glasgow as a global hub for next-generation space innovation.
Scottish company pioneers satellite communications with spacex launch. By March 31, 2026 No Comments 3 Mins Read Three new scottish-built satellites have been launched aboard spacex's Transporter 16 mission. The launch marks a significant step forward for the UK's leadership in laser communications, spacecraft manufacturing and satellite communications. Developed by Spire Global and AAC Clyde Space in Glasgow, the satellites are backed by UK Space Agency funding through the European Space Agency's Pioneer Programme, which supports start-up UK space companies to become new mission providers. The Pioneer program falls under the Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) program. The importance of satellite communications in critical industries. The UK Government has identified satellite communications as a priority area for further support due to its increasingly important role in both civil and defense applications, from providing broadband services to remote areas to providing secure connectivity for military operations. As part of this initiative, the UK Space Agency will invest more than £600m in satellite communications research and development over the next few years. Optical satellite-to-satellite link testing by Spire Global UK. One of the satellites was launched by Spire Global UK to test an innovative optical intersatellite link (ISL) payload. The mission is designed to demonstrate high-speed laser cross-linking on a compact 6U platform and aims to significantly reduce data latency for aviation, maritime, weather, and space weather services. Once validated, this technology will support near real-time global data distribution across a constellation of microsatellites. AAC Clyde Space demonstrates UK mass production capabilities. As part of the xSPANTION project, the two satellites were developed by AAC Clyde Space in collaboration with several UK partners including Bright Ascension Ltd., University of Strathclyde, Satellite Applications Catapult, Alden Legal and D-Orbit UK. These satellites will be the first in-orbit demonstration of the UK's new high-volume, low-cost satellite manufacturing and operational capabilities. These satellites form part of VIREON(TM), AAC Clyde Space's new satellite constellation designed to enhance decision-making across agriculture, forestry and environmental management, providing government, industry and environmental organizations with insights from space. Supporting the growth of satellite communications across the UK. Together these missions will strengthen the UK's capabilities across optical ISL technology, high-volume manufacturing, advanced operational platforms and highly skilled jobs across the UK supply chain. They also demonstrate Glasgow's position as Europe's leading city in small satellite manufacturing. Henny Sands, Director of Telecommunications at the UK Space Agency, explained: "The launch of Transporter 16 is a significant step forward for the UK's ambitions in next-generation satellite communications. "Supporting both breakthrough optical technology and high-volume production methods will enable British companies to lead the market that will define the future of global connectivity." Companies can also apply to the UK Space Agency's Low Earth Orbit Connectivity (C-LEO) program. Currently, £30m is available to support the development of new components and technology for the constellation, with further funding to be launched later this year.