{"id":673227,"url":"https://alion.io/job/observable-staff-full-stack-software-engineer","title":"Staff Full Stack Software Engineer","company":{"id":678446,"name":"Observable Space","domain":"observable.space","url":"https://alion.io/company/observable-3","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":78,"open_postings":9,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.667,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":67,"computed_at":"2026-10-28T05:59:10Z"}},"role":"Backend","role_family":"Backend","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Los Angeles, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":180000,"max":230000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":230000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":8,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"C#","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"ETL/ELT","optional":false},{"name":"Java","optional":false},{"name":"Kotlin","optional":false},{"name":"TypeScript","optional":false},{"name":"JavaScript","optional":true},{"name":"React.js","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-04-20T22:34:06Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-04-20","last_verified_at":"2026-10-28T10:06:19Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":190,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":[],"days_open":190},"description":"About Observable Space\nAt Observable Space, we're redefining how humanity observes and connects with the universe. We're a vertically integrated, high-growth, space technology company building industry-leading precision optics platforms for Earth and in space. Our systems are trusted by thousands of customers, including NASA, JPL, SpaceX, Boeing, RTX, the US Space Force and the U.S. Department of War, leading research institutions and international partners.\nWe combine precision opto-mechanical hardware, embedded compute, cloud orchestration, and developer-friendly APIs into world class products at scale with in-house manufacturing. From advanced ground stations, on-orbit sensor suites, free space optical lasercom, to distributed compute platforms, we deliver the foundational systems enabling continuous, real-time navigation, observation, and communication in space.\nObservable Space is backed by top-tier institutional investors including Lux Capital, Upfront Ventures, RTX Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners and Embedded Ventures. To learn more, visit observable.space.\nAbout the Role\nWe are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Full Stack Software Engineer to join our dynamic team. This role will involve deep engagement with our backend microservices, typescript front ends, and c++ edge processing applications. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in software engineering, with specific expertise in distributed systems, relational database design, reactive frontend programming, and a keen eye for design. This role will report directly to the VP of Software Engineering.\nWhat You'll Do\nTechnical Leadership & Vision\nOwn multi-quarter technical roadmaps for platform systems, translating company goals into durable architectural decisions.\n\nDefine and evangelize engineering standards, patterns, and best practices across teams - writing the documents other engineers reference.\n\nDrive architectural decisions for distributed systems and ensure long-term technical scalability across the stack.\n\nIdentify and resolve systemic technical risks before they become production incidents.\n\nOrganizational Impact\nLead multi-team technical design processes - writing RFCs, facilitating alignment, and driving decisions to closure.\n\nActively develop senior and mid-level engineers through design reviews, pairing, and structured feedback.\n\nTranslate complex technical tradeoffs into business impact for non-technical stakeholders including executives and customers.\n\nWork closely with cross-functional teams to define and deliver solutions for our customers.\n\nContribute to hiring by interviewing candidates and helping define what \"great\" looks like at Observable Space.\n\nExecution & Engineering Excellence\nDesign, build, and maintain Kotlin backend microservices, C++ edge applications, and reactive frontends.\n\nDesign and optimize relational database schemas, ETL pipelines, and data warehousing solutions.\n\nDebug and resolve complex production issues across the full software stack (backend, frontend, and edge).\n\nEnsure high reliability and performance in production systems, and establish the observability practices that make this possible.\n\nWhat You'll Bring\n8+ years of experience in a relevant software engineering role, with at least 2-3 years in a Staff, Principal, or technical lead capacity.\n\nDemonstrated ability to influence technical direction beyond your immediate team - through documents, standards, or organizational initiatives.\n\nTrack record of improving engineering quality, velocity, or culture at an organizational level.\n\nStrong programming skills in Java, Kotlin, C++, or C# (we love our statically typed object oriented languages!).\n\nExcellent data modeling skills - extensive experience working with RDBMSs, ETL processes, and data warehousing.\n\nExperience in a test-driven development environment.\n\nAcute product sense, placing an emphasis on user experience and outcomes over outputs.\n\nAn iterative mindset - perfect is the enemy of good, and you know when to pay down technical debt vs. when to ship.\n\nAbility to navigate ambiguity and lead others through it in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.\n\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience working with foreign function interfaces to call rust and C++ from the JVM\n\nExperience with Kotlin for backend programming and have an allergy to monolithic frameworks and ORMs\n\nExperience with TypeScript and React to create complex user interfaces\n\nA love of astronomy, physics, and science\n\nWhat We Offer\nCompetitive Compensation - A salary package aligned with industry standards and your experience.\nEquity Opportunities - Take part in our success with stock options.\nFlexible Work Environment - Enjoy working from our office or in a hybrid work setup with the flexibility to work remotely part of the week. We require a minimum of 3 days per week in our office to support collaboration and team culture. (LA Office only)\nUnlimited PTO (exempt only) - Take the time you need with our flexible, trust-based vacation policy, including paid holidays. We encourage everyone to rest, recharge, and take care of themselves.\nHealth & Wellness - Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with 100% of the premium paid by the employer for employees.\nCutting-Edge Tools - Get access to the latest hardware and software you need to do your best work.\nMission-Driven Culture - Be part of a team working on meaningful challenges with real-world impact.\nInclusive Team - We foster a supportive and diverse workplace where all voices are valued.\nObservable Space is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5940,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":8,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Flexible schedule","Hybrid work","Stock options","Unlimited PTO"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Satellite Manufacturing","Space Services","Optics & Photonic Components"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-10T22:35:21Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":18,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.654,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":190,"expected_fill_days":67,"reasons":["conf:0","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-28T05:59:10Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":230000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/observable-staff-full-stack-software-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/observable-staff-full-stack-software-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-28T13:05:10Z","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":17534,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-29T00:00:00Z"}},"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":678446},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=678446"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fobservable-staff-full-stack-software-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%2Fobservable-staff-full-stack-software-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%2Fobservable-staff-full-stack-software-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/observable-staff-full-stack-software-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fobservable-staff-full-stack-software-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":673227}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"observable.space","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":673227},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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