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Ground Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

LHi Group Ltd

Ground Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$120K - $235K/yr

Ground Software Engineer II / Senior Ground Software Engineer Location: Playa Vista, Los Angeles - 5 days onsite Compensation: $120,000-$235,000 base + bonus + equity Eligibility: U.S. citizenship ...

Lawrence Harvey

Ground Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$120K - $235K/yr

Ground Software Engineer II / Senior Ground Software Engineer Location: Playa Vista, Los Angeles - 5 days onsite Compensation: $120,000-$235,000 base + bonus + equity Eligibility: U.S. citizenship ...

Impulse Space

Ground Software Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$125K - $175K/yr

Ground Software Engineer Department: Software Employment Type: Full Time Location: Redondo Beach Compensation: $125,000 - $175,000 / year Description As a Ground Software Engineer , you will create ...

Next Matter

Ground Software Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Ground Software Engineer Ground Software Engineer on the Flight Software team is responsible for building the software systems that connect engineers to flight hardware throughout development ...

Reflect Orbital

Ground Software Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$120K - $190K/yr

About the Role As a Satellite Ground Software Engineer, your core responsibilities will be to build and maintain the software our operations team will use to fly the spacecraft. This role blends ...

K2 Space

Ground Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$123K - $150K/yr

The Role As a Software Engineer on our Ground Software team, you are responsible for creating the software that is used to build, test, and fly our satellites and customer payloads. You will build ...

Impulse Space

Ground Software Engineer

Redondo Beach, CA · On-site

$125K - $175K/yr

Description As a Ground Software Engineer , you will create and implement intuitive, high-performance user interfaces, utilizing time-series databases for real-time testing and interfacing with space ...

K2 Space

Ground Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$123K - $150K/yr

The Role As a Software Engineer on our Ground Software team, you are responsible for creating the software that is used to build, test, and fly our satellites and customer payloads. You will build ...

E-Space

Senior Ground Software Engineer

Saratoga, CA · On-site

$135K - $178K/yr

They are seeking a Senior Ground Software Engineer to join their Mission Operations team, responsible for building command and telemetry interfaces and backend software to support satellite ...

AnySignal

Ground Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

They are seeking a versatile Ground Segment Software Engineer to build robust ground segment software for space communications, managing GNURadio modules and deploying cloud-based solutions.

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All JobsGround Software Engineer Jobs

Ground Software Engineer information

See salary details

$63.5K

$147.5K

$205.5K

How much do ground software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for ground software engineer in the United States is $147,524.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $120,000.00 and $173,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a ground software engineer?

Ground Software Engineers are professionals who design, develop, and maintain software systems that support space missions from the ground. Their work typically involves building tools for mission control, telemetry processing, satellite communication, and data management. These engineers ensure that spacecraft can be monitored, commanded, and controlled from Earth, often collaborating closely with hardware engineers and mission operators. They play a crucial role in mission success by enabling real-time data analysis, automation, and troubleshooting for space operations.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a ground software engineer?

To thrive as a Ground Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills (often in languages like C++, Java, or Python), a background in computer science or engineering, and knowledge of satellite ground systems. Familiarity with software development tools, real-time operating systems, and experience with mission control systems or telemetry processing platforms are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities ensure reliable software that supports mission-critical ground operations and fosters collaboration within multidisciplinary teams.

What challenges does a ground software engineer face when integrating new systems with existing ground infrastructure?

Ground Software Engineers often encounter challenges when integrating new software with legacy ground systems, such as ensuring compatibility between different hardware interfaces and communication protocols. They may also need to address issues related to real-time data processing, security requirements, and system scalability. Collaboration with cross-functional teams—including hardware engineers, network specialists, and mission operations personnel—is essential to identify potential integration issues early and develop effective solutions.

What is the difference between Ground Software Engineer vs Satellite Software Engineer?

AspectGround Software EngineerSatellite Software Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related fields; experience with embedded systems and real-time softwareSimilar credentials; focus on embedded systems, real-time software, and aerospace standards
Work EnvironmentGround stations, control centers, labs, often in aerospace or defense industriesSatellite onboard systems, spacecraft, aerospace facilities
Employer & IndustryAerospace, defense, satellite communication companiesSatellite manufacturers, space agencies, aerospace firms
Search & Comparison IntentPeople comparing roles in satellite ground control and software developmentRoles related to satellite onboard software development

While both roles involve embedded and real-time software skills, Ground Software Engineers focus on developing and maintaining ground station systems and control software, whereas Satellite Software Engineers work on onboard satellite systems and firmware. The roles often overlap in skills but differ in environment and specific responsibilities.

More about Ground Software Engineer jobs

What cities are hiring for Ground Software Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Ground Software Engineer job openings:

What states have the most Ground Software Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Ground Software Engineer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Ground Software Engineer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Ground Software Engineer jobs are:

Ground Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Ground Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,524 per year, or $70.9 per hour.

Ground Software Engineer

LHi Group Ltd

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$120K - $235K/yr

Other

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Ground Software Engineer II / Senior Ground Software Engineer
Location: Playa Vista, Los Angeles - 5 days onsite
Compensation: $120,000-$235,000 base + bonus + equity
Eligibility: U.S. citizenship required
The Company
A well-funded aerospace company in Los Angeles is developing an advanced spacecraft platform designed for high-tempo, mission-critical operations.
Following a recent leadership promotion and continued platform expansion, the company is adding two engineers to its Ground Software team: one at the Engineer II level and one at the Senior level.
The Role
You will build the software responsible for communicating with spacecraft and connecting flight systems with the broader ground infrastructure.
This is a hands-on engineering position spanning spacecraft command and control, telemetry, mission operations, system integration, and operator-facing tools. You will work closely with flight software, avionics, and operations teams to develop reliable systems supporting real vehicles and missions.
Responsibilities
  • Build and maintain software used to command, monitor, test, and operate spacecraft
  • Develop systems for telemetry processing, command handling, data distribution, and mission operations
  • Integrate ground software with flight software, spacecraft hardware, and external ground infrastructure
  • Design reliable software capable of supporting real-time, mission-critical operations
  • Own projects from initial architecture through implementation, integration, testing, and deployment
  • Diagnose complex issues spanning software, networking, hardware, and vehicle interfaces
  • Collaborate closely with flight software, avionics, test, and operations engineers
  • Help shape the architecture and technical direction of a growing ground software platform
What We're Looking For
  • Strong software engineering fundamentals and hands-on coding ability
  • Experience in aerospace, aviation, drones, robotics, or another complex physical-systems environment
  • Experience building distributed, networked, or hardware-integrated software systems
  • Ability to design, test, and operate software with a high degree of reliability
  • Strong systems thinking and comfort working across software and hardware boundaries
  • U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance

For Senior candidates:
  • Experience architecting or owning significant portions of a ground software system
  • Direct experience integrating ground systems with flight software
  • Proven ownership of complex software from design through operational deployment
  • Ability to influence architecture and mentor other engineers

For Engineer II candidates:
  • Professional experience in aerospace, robotics, distributed systems, or embedded-adjacent software
  • Evidence of meaningful technical ownership and the ability to learn complex systems quickly
  • Exposure to telemetry, command-and-control systems, networking, simulation, or hardware integration
Highly Desirable
  • Experience with spacecraft ground systems or mission control software
  • Rust experience
  • C++ or Python experience
  • Real-time telemetry, command systems, networking, or time-series data
  • Hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop testing
  • Experience supporting live vehicle, flight, or robotic operations

This position is fully onsite in Playa Vista, Los Angeles.

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