# Head of Software

**Company:** [Northwood Space](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/northwood-space)
**Location:** Los Angeles, CA, California
**Role:** Engineering Management
**Salary:** $200k – $270k/yr
**Experience:** 7+ years
**Skills:** C++, Rust, Linux, Networking, Distributed Systems, CI/CD, Backend Apis, Embedded Software, Infrastructure, Kubernetes
**Posted:** 2026-04-17

> Leads software engineering for space infrastructure company, owning architecture, execution, and team leadership across backend, infrastructure, networking, and embedded systems. Requires 7-10+ years experience with hands-on leadership of mission-critical production systems.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Own the architecture and technical direction of Northwood's core software stack, including backend APIs, infrastructure, networking, and embedded software
- Plan, prioritize, and execute complex, cross-functional software projects in close collaboration with hardware and operations teams
- Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing software team across backend, infrastructure, and embedded domains
- Build and maintain strong engineering foundations, including tooling, CI/CD, deployment, and operational processes
- Ensure systems are scalable, reliable, secure, and observable in production
- Stay hands-on as needed to design, debug, and deliver critical systems

## Basic Qualifications
- 7–10+ years of professional software engineering experience, including ownership of production systems
- Demonstrated experience leading teams and delivering complex, mission-critical software

## Nice to Have
- Startup experience
- Aerospace or mission-critical systems experience
- Experience with Linux internals, networking, or distributed systems
- Experience with C/C++ or Rust
- Strong background across backend systems, infrastructure, and low-level or embedded software

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