Senior Full Stack Software Engineer

Astroscale

Harwell, United Kingdom

Astroscale UK is seeking an experienced and motivated Full Stack Software Engineer with a strong background, or interest, in the Space domain to join our Ground Segment Software team.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a rapidly growing company focused on solving the critical issue of orbital debris, which poses a significant risk to the future of space exploration and operations. In this role, you will play a key part in the design, development, and maintenance of high-quality software solutions for the Ground Segment of the ELSA-M mission and other cutting-edge projects.

We’re looking for someone with extensive experience in developing software for mission-critical applications across the full stack. Expertise in the space sector or adjacent industries (e.g., defence, aviation, telecommunications, or automotive) is crucial.

Responsibilities

As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to:

Design, develop, and maintain scalable, efficient backend services using modern industry-standard programming languages.
Architect and build dynamic, responsive, and interactive user interfaces with modern frontend technologies.
Design, manage, and optimise databases, ensuring high performance, reliability, and data integrity.
Build and manage containerised applications using Docker and Kubernetes
Develop, maintain, and optimise CI/CD pipelines to streamline software delivery process
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to define, design, and deliver new software features.
Troubleshoot and debug issues across the entire stack, providing expert-level problem-solving
Lead and participate in SCRUM ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives

Essential Skills

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
5+ years of real-world experience developing software for mission-critical applications in the space domain or adjacent industries.
5+ years of full stack development experience.
5+ years of object-oriented programming experience (preferably in Java, Python, or C++).
5+ years of experience developing frontend applications with modern frameworks (preferably React).

In addition to the essential skills above, you should also have strong demonstrable experience in one or more of the following areas:

Containerised applications and container orchestration technologies (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes, Docker Compose).
CI/CD pipelines tools such as GitLab CI or GitHub Actions.
Proficiency in SQL databases and data management.
Proficiency with Git and version control workflows.
Working in an Agile/SCRUM environment.
Familiarity with CCSDS standards or ECSS data communications protocols.
Schema database formats (SCOS-2000 / XTCE, etc) 
Working in Ground Segment systems.
Cloud platforms such as AWS or Azure.  
Knowledge of security best practices in software development.