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Northwood Space

Head of Software

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.

200k – 270kLos Angeles, CACaliforniaEngineering ManagementOnsite7+ YOE
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About the role

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

Skills

C++RustLinuxNetworkingDistributed SystemsCI/CDBackend ApisEmbedded SoftwareInfrastructureKubernetes

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