Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe— large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts.
Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $750 million from some of the world’s best investors, from Andreessen Horowitz to Blackrock and Fidelity, and employs a team of 450 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.
We are looking for a Software Simulation Engineer to design and build the core architecture of our simulation platform. You will be responsible for the infrastructure that validates our intelligent systems before real-world deployment. Your focus will be on creating a scalable, high-performance virtual environment that seamlessly integrates flight software, autonomy stacks, and external models.
Role- Simulation Architecture: Design, build, and maintain the core infrastructure, data pipelines, and timing mechanisms for our system-level and Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) simulation environments.
- Framework Development: Build robust APIs and interfaces that allow cross-functional teams to easily plug their specific sensor, actuator, and physics models into the broader simulation.
- Software Integration: Integrate flight software, autonomy stacks, and control algorithms directly into the simulator.
- Testing Infrastructure: Develop the backend tooling and automated test frameworks needed to run large-scale simulations, verify system behavior, and catch edge cases.
- Cross-Functional Sync: Act as the simulation platform owner, partnering with hardware and controls teams to ensure the architecture supports their testing requirements and scales effectively.
- BS or MS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
- 3+ years of experience in software simulation, systems architecture, or complex software development.
- Expert in Python with strong working knowledge of C++.
- Hands-on experience architecting, extending, or maintaining custom software simulators, test harnesses, or large-scale software frameworks.
- Solid understanding of system-level networking and data routing (e.g., Ethernet, UDP/TCP, CAN).
- Background in aerospace, automotive, or robotics.
- Familiarity with Embedded Linux, RTOS, or supporting downstream Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) setups.
- Experience with CI/CD pipelines and scaling simulations in cloud environments.
Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.
Skills Required
- BS or MS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field
- 3+ years of experience in software simulation, systems architecture, or complex software development
- Expert in Python with strong working knowledge of C++
- Hands-on experience architecting, extending, or maintaining custom software simulators, test harnesses, or large-scale software frameworks
- Solid understanding of system-level networking and data routing (e.g., Ethernet, UDP/TCP, CAN)
What We Do
Astranis is building small, low-cost telecommunications satellites. Our mission is to help get online the 4 billion people who are without internet access.
