{"id":2837219,"url":"https://alion.io/job/azora-automation-engineer","title":"Automation Engineer","company":{"id":4396803,"name":"Azora","domain":"azora.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/azora-3","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Deel","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":5,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Phoenix, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":85000,"max_usd":161000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":5966},"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"CI/CD","optional":false},{"name":"gRPC","optional":false},{"name":"MQTT","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false},{"name":"Skyfield","optional":false},{"name":"ZeroMQ","optional":false},{"name":"C","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-02T00:45:55Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-09","last_verified_at":"2026-10-22T13:28:00Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":112,"trust":{"level":"stale","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale"],"days_open":112},"description":"Role\nBuild the automation backbone that enables Azora's optical ground stations to operate independently: autonomous pass scheduling, calibration routines, health monitoring, and fault recovery. As a lead, you will define the automation architecture across a growing global network of ground sites.\nResponsibilities\nArchitect and implement end-to-end automation for ground station operations: target acquisition, pass execution, weather-driven decision-making, and safe-state recovery.\n\nDevelop hardware control software for telescopes, gimbals, weather sensors, and optical bench instrumentation (motion controllers, cameras, power systems).\n\nBuild automated calibration, self-test, and built-in-test (BIT) routines that keep stations operational without on-site staff.\n\nDesign monitoring, alerting, and remote diagnostics infrastructure across multiple geographically distributed sites.\n\nDefine interfaces between site-level automation and the network-level scheduler/orchestration layer.\n\nEstablish software engineering practices for the automation stack: CI/CD, hardware-in-the-loop testing, simulation environments, and release management.\n\nBuild, lead and mentor a small team of automation and controls engineers as the ground network scales.\n\nRequired Qualifications\nBS/MS in Computer Science, Robotics, Electrical/Mechatronics Engineering, or related field.\n\n5+ years building automation or control software for physical systems (robotics, observatories, test automation, industrial control, or similar).\n\nStrong programming skills in Python and at least one systems language (C++, Rust, or Go).\n\nExperience with hardware interfaces and protocols: serial, Ethernet/IP, Modbus, CAN, or similar.\n\nDemonstrated experience taking automation systems from prototype to reliable 24/7 operation.\n\nPreferred\nExperience automating telescopes, observatories, or optical ground stations (e.g., INDI/ASCOM ecosystems, custom mount control).\n\nFamiliarity with orbital mechanics and satellite pass prediction (e.g., SGP4, Skyfield).\n\nExperience with distributed systems, message buses (MQTT, ZeroMQ, gRPC), and time synchronization (NTP/PTP).\n\nPrior technical leadership or team lead experience in a startup environment.\n\nLocation\nThis is an onsite/hybrid role based in Tempe, AZ or the Bay Area, CA - hardware work that’s hard to do remotely. Some travel expected for field deployment and vendor/manufacturing visits.\nBenefits:\nGenerous equity\n\nCompetitive healthcare (including options for vision and dental)\n\n401(k)\n\nUnlimited PTO\n\nEEO & Reasonable Accommodations\nAzora is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. \n\nIf you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know by contacting \n\nExport Control\nTo conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (iii) protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or (iv) be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.\nSalary ranges are based on the following criteria:\nLevel 1 (starting from $130,000 USD): 3-5 years of experience in relevant roles.\n\nLevel 2 (starting from $160,000 USD): 5-15 years of experience in relevant roles.\n\nFinal salary is based on geographic location, experience, skills, and qualifications.\n\nAbout this Company\nAzora is building high-bandwidth communications infrastructure for environments where fiber can’t reach. This work spans LEO spacecraft constellations, lunar exploration missions, GEO satcom, deployable optical ground for defense, and data centers both on- and off-world. To enable rapid global proliferation Azora is developing compact and modular optical terminals small enough to deploy from a backpack, and space terminals that support high speed optical links from LEO out to the Moon.","description_format":"text","description_chars":3890,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":5,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Unlimited PTO"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-19T07:23:25Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":13,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.467,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":112,"expected_fill_days":35,"reasons":["conf:0","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-22T06:10:10Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/azora-automation-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/azora-automation-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-22T16:03:48Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":16171,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-23T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":4396803},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=4396803"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fazora-automation-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fazora-automation-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fazora-automation-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/azora-automation-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fazora-automation-engineer"}]}