Telecommunications Software Engineer

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

We are looking for a Telecommunications Software Engineer to develop the software that handles, processes, and delivers mission data across our satellite ground network. You will build systems that ingest data from our modems, interpret CCSDS protocols, process telemetry and command data, and reliably route information between spacecraft operators and their missions.

You will own critical components of the communications data path—from protocol implementation and real-time stream processing through integration testing and operational deployment. You will work closely with DSP, FPGA, infrastructure, and customer-facing engineers to turn customer communication requirements into reliable, production-ready software.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Design, build, and maintain software for ingesting, processing, and routing telemetry, tracking, and command data

Implement and validate CCSDS protocols, including space packets, transfer frames, synchronization, and data encapsulation

Develop high-performance data pipelines connecting software-defined radios, ground-station infrastructure, and customer endpoints

Build tooling for packet parsing, frame validation, buffering, recording, replay, monitoring, and debugging

Translate customer mission requirements into configurable data-handling workflows and interfaces

Collaborate with DSP and FPGA engineers to define and validate the interfaces between physical-layer processing and higher-level communications software

Test communications workflows using simulated, hardware-in-the-loop, and live satellite data

Own software through development, deployment, operational validation, and ongoing mission support

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree with 2–5+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree with 1–4+ years of experience, in computer science, electrical engineering, telecommunications, or a related field

Strong programming skills in a systems-oriented language such as Rust, C++, or Go

Experience developing software for networking, telecommunications, real-time data processing, or distributed systems

Solid understanding of network protocols, binary data formats, serialization, buffering, and asynchronous data processing