{"id":708472,"url":"https://alion.io/job/leaf-software-network-engineer","title":"Software Network Engineer","company":{"id":695558,"name":"Leaf Space","domain":"leaf.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/leaf-6","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Teamtailor","truth_index":null},"role":"Networking","role_family":"Networking","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":[],"countries":[],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Rust","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-08-04T10:01:44Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-04","last_verified_at":"2026-09-29T12:59:01Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":null,"days_open":58,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":58},"description":"Software Network Engineer\nAbout Leaf Space\nLeaf Space is a rapidly growing scale-up company and a leading provider of ground segment as-a-service (GSaaS) solutions. Our innovative and proprietary concept is focused on providing satellite and launch vehicle connectivity as-a-service, enabling clients to efficiently manage their assets and fully exploit data. Our GSaaS solutions have been recognized by the market for their efficiency, security, and effectiveness in supporting different applications, from remote sensing to IoT communications.\nJOB OVERVIEW\nThe Software Network Engineer will design, implement, secure, and optimize the networking software stack that enables a resilient, self-organizing mesh network across a constellation of satellites. You will design and implement routing, SDN-based control frameworks, link-management systems, cybersecurity protections, and distributed-systems capabilities that allow spacecraft to communicate reliably under constantly changing orbital conditions.\nThis role blends deep networking expertise with systems engineering, real-time constraints, SDN control-plane design, and the unique challenges of securing communication in space environments.\nRESPONSIBILITIES\nDesign and implement networking protocols for inter-satellite and satellite-to-ground communication, including routing, link-state management, congestion control, and fault-tolerant data transport.\n\nDevelop distributed mesh-network algorithms that adapt to dynamic topology changes driven by orbital motion, intermittent connectivity, and variable link quality.\n\nArchitect and implement SDN-based networking frameworks, including programmable control-plane logic for dynamic topology management, policy enforcement, and cross-link orchestration.\n\nDesign and implement SDN-based networking frameworks, including programmable control-plane logic for dynamic topology management, policy enforcement, and cross-link orchestration.\n\nIntegrate cybersecurity into all layers of the communication stack, including encryption, authentication and secure routing for space systems.\n\nImplement real-time communication stacks optimized for radiation-tolerant processors and constrained onboard computing environments.\n\nCollaborate with RF, DSP, FPGA, and security teams to ensure end-to-end secure communication from PHY layer to application layer.\n\nEnsure reliability and robustness through redundancy, error handling, watchdog systems, autonomous recovery, and secure failover mechanisms.\n\nDevelop simulation and emulation frameworks to model constellation-scale networking behavior, orbital dynamics, link variability.\n\nParticipate in code reviews, design reviews, and mission readiness activities across the software and RF engineering teams.\n\nContribute to system-level architecture, including protocol selection, SDN controller design, interface definitions, and end-to-end communication strategy.\n\nContribute to networking architecture decisions, including protocol selection, SDN controller design, interface definitions, and end-to-end communication strategy.\n\nQUALIFICATIONS AND STUDIES\nBachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.\n\n5+ years of experience in networking software development for distributed, embedded or real-time systems.\n\nStrong expertise in networking protocols, distributed systems, cross-layer optimization and software-defined networking (SDN)\n\nREQUIREMENTS\nTech skills\n\nProficiency in Python, C/C++, Rust or similar programming languages, with experience developing software for embedded or resource-constrained environments.\n\nExperience with embedded Linux and firmware development.\n\nStrong understanding of wireless networking, link-layer behavior, and dynamic topology management.\n\nAbility to design and drive end-to-end test campaigns\n\nHands-on experience with cybersecurity, including encryption, secure communication protocols, key management, authentication frameworks, and secure boot.\n\nFamiliarity with simulation tools for networking.\n\nAbility to collaborate across hardware, RF, DSP, FPGA, and SW development teams.\n\nKnowledge of LEO/MEO/GEO orbital dynamics and how they affect network topology and link performance.\n\nExperience with DTN, MANETs or self-organizing mesh networks is considered a plus.\n\nSoft skills\n\nExcellent cross-functional communication skills to interface effectively with engineering teams, suppliers and management.\n\nAbility to work effectively in multidisciplinary engineering teams.\n\nRigorous, detail-oriented approach, with a preference for measured/verified data over assumptions, and transparency when prior estimates need correction.\n\nComfortable working in a fast-moving, still-maturing product environment, iterating on both architecture and hands-on implementation.\n\nFluent English (written and spoken) required, given interaction with external international partners.\n\nWHAT WE OFFER\nA flat and collaborative organizational structure\n\nA fast-paced and professional environment within a rapidly growing space scale-up\n\nChallenging projects with real impact on the global space ecosystem\n\nAn international and diverse workplace\n\nComprehensive benefits package, including a welfare platform, meal vouchers, a hybrid work policy supporting work-life balance, and training opportunities\n\nCOMPENSATION & TRANSPARENCY:\nReports to: Head of Engineering\n\nCareer level: P4 - Senior Professional\n\nJob location: Lomazzo (Como), Italy | Hybrid work model\n\nSalary range: 55-70K\n\nVariable compensation: 10% of annual gross salary\n\nBenefits: €8 meal vouchers · Welfare platform · Hybrid work policy · Training opportunities\n\nExpected start date: 1.10.2026","description_format":"text","description_chars":5687,"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":[{"language":"English","level":"Advanced (C1)","optional":false}]},"benefits":["Hybrid work"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"Italy","iso":"IT","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Information Security"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-11T04:11:48Z"}],"liveness":{"score":33,"band":"fade","label":"Fading","p_open":1,"p_active":0.607,"p_room":0.55,"age_days":57,"expected_fill_days":42,"reasons":["conf:40","win:tail"],"computed_at":"2026-10-01T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/leaf-software-network-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/leaf-software-network-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-02T02:26:22Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":3248,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":1752,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-03T00:00:00Z"}}}