Principal Software Engineer

Your impact
Intelsat Inflight has an exciting opportunity for a Principal Software Engineer. You will be part of a team responsible for

• Optimizing and automating GEO satellite capacity used for commercial aviation tails and hence optimizing the user experience of on-board passengers
• Gather and distribute critical flight data such that information about flights and supporting satellite beams are understood
• Work with the satellite capacity management team solving problems such that they can most efficiently meet customer needs with Intelsat's most valuable asset, that is satellite capacity

What you will do

• Able to develop and maintain scalable, modular, fault-tolerant, and portable software for the Mobility Control Program that dynamically allocates aircraft to GEO satellites as they move between cities. Functionality includes:
  • Linux based servers with redundancy and high availability to provide coordination and connectivity between to all aspects of the system, that is client software instances on airplanes, the SQL database, and adjunct server applications
  • Load balancing software that dynamically resides on servers making decisions on how to optimally load airplanes and hence user capacity across available satellite beams
  • Managing an SQL database with redundancy and high availability; able to share information via GUI for internal users
  • Client software on airplanes that communicates with the ground servers to make satellite beam selection decisions and that works with interfacing to the on-board satellite modem and antenna controller hardware
  • Working on simulation software for the entire Commercial Aviation fleet
• Define data to be captured in real-time with respect to flights and their effect on GEO capacity utilization and help define utilization of data in next generation applications
• Develop technical leadership across all aspects of the products
• Interface with key development leaders from within Intelsat located in Chicago, IL USA
• Work with the satellite capacity management team, understanding needs and providing associated solutions
• Participate and influence product roadmaps
• Interface with the Systems Engineering & Architecture teams to understand and influence project requirements.
• Perform technical design reviews, code reviews, unit test, and system test case reviews.
• Interface with QA to facilitate system testing

Your required experience/skills

• Master's or bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering or related technology - advanced degree preferred.
• A minimum of 8-11 years of relevant experience in the telecommunications and/or networking industry preferred.
• Hands-on experience of software development in Embedded Linux and Server Based Linux and providing technical leadership in software teams.
• Strong programming and debugging skills using either Java, C, C++, or Python.
• Strong knowledge of IP networking protocols and technologies
• Expertise in Unix/Linux scripting languages such as bash, python, make, perl, etc.
• Experience with database and web technologies such as MariaDB, MySQL or similar Linux-based database and ODBC experience

Your success in this role will look like:

• Strong communication skills including technical documentation, written reports and proposals, development and delivery of presentations and the ability to listen to and communicate effectively with internal customers.
• Demonstrated ability to lead interfacing to both off- and on-shore personnel.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, yet cooperatively in a dynamic, matrixed environment.
• Experience with Continuous Integration

It would be nice if you had:

• GIS experience knowledgeable in geospatial calculations and presentation
• Google Earth KML language experience for graphical information display
• Satellite modem hardware or firmware experience
• Gilat satellite infrastructure system configuration or performance experience
• Satellite simulation experience
• Knowledge of satellite industry data file format standards (e.g. EIRP and G/T GXTs)
• Linux kernel development or server administration
• Experience with creating and validating user interfaces

How we support you:

• Hybrid work environment offering up to two days per week work from home (for eligible positions)
• Development opportunities supporting professional growth championed by our dedicated Learning & Development team. 20-25% of our positions are hired internally!
• Ways to get involved: satellite launch parties, company connect events, charitable activities, team social events, recognition programs, and employee resource groups.
• Wide range of benefits and perks to help you stay healthy, happy, and productive. These include paid leave programs, medical, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits, employee wellness offerings, and more!

These benefits are designed to support your overall well-being and help you succeed in your role.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Intelsat is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by applicable law .
While it is important to note that meeting the minimum qualifications is a fundamental requirement for consideration, if you are enthusiastic about this role and are unsure how well your experience aligns with these requirements, we encourage you to apply. Our recruitment team will assess your application and determine if your skills and qualifications meet the essential criteria for this role or whether there might be another role within our organization that is a better match.

• These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees assigned to this job.

About Us As the foundational architects of satellite technology, Intelsat applies our expertise to develop breakthrough solutions that advance and secure boundless applications for our customers and partners.
At Intelsat, we increase human potential by connecting people, communities, businesses, and governments. Our employees enjoy a casual and collaborative environment, where we celebrate professional excellence in pursuit of the corporate mission. We hire skilled professionals who work in various areas such as: satellite engineering, network operations, cloud architecture, accounting, sales, legal, and more. Browse our current job openings or create a professional profile to stay informed about opportunities that match your interests and expertise.
Intelsat is subject to regulation by certain U.S. Government national security agencies, which require that we collect and share certain Personally Identifiable Information ("PII") with the U.S. Government to obtain permission to employ non-U.S. persons in certain roles. If selected for a role at Intelsat, we may collect and share your PII for these purposes.
Intelsat is an Equal Opportunity Employer