Systems Development Engineer I

Company Overview

Iridium is an award-winning satellite communications company operating the world's only truly global voice and data network, delivering reliable connectivity anywhere on Earth. For more than 20 years, Iridium has powered mission-critical communications for governments, businesses, aviation, maritime, and the rapidly expanding Internet of Things.

Now part of Iridium, Aireon is the world’s only space-based air traffic surveillance system, providing real-time visibility of aircraft over oceans, the poles, and remote regions. Together, Iridium and Aireon are helping build a safer, more connected, and more efficient future for global aviation.

Join our team and help shape how the world stays connected. We foster a collaborative, inclusive culture where employees are empowered to innovate, grow professionally, and make a meaningful impact.

What We’re Looking For

Iridium is seeking a talented and motivated Systems Development Engineer I to join our Automation team. As a Systems Development Engineer I, you will write and review code and help maintain framework infrastructure throughout our agile development cycle. In this role, you’ll gain valuable experience designing and developing automation for interdisciplinary projects while receiving support from team members with day-to-day activities. You’ll thrive in this role if you enjoy software engineering, design, devops, research, deep-dive troubleshooting, and detail-oriented tasks in both individual and team-based settings.

What You’ll Do

• Work with industry standard tools and software such as Elasticsearch/Logstash/Kibana, Amazon Web Services, CI/CD pipelines, event-driven messaging, containers and more
• Participate in an Agile software team to collaborate and coordinate with team members on a variety of tasks including: Software architecture design
• API definition, design, and implementation
• Virtualization and containerization
• Automation framework infrastructure deployment
• Hardware communications
• Data transformation and visualization
• Support the team in solving problems and developing creative solutions within the automation organization
• Assist with translating User Stories into specific actionable tasks
• Maintain and expand existing software tools, lab environment, and hardware components
• Create documentation that clearly presents information
• Learn the details and protocols of the Iridium satellite constellation and ground systems to better assist the internal Iridium teams

What You’ll Need to Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science or a related technical degree, or comparable related technical field experience
• Entry-level knowledge of software development
• An analytical mindset, with the ability to understand a situation or problem and think critically to make decisions and come up with solutions
• Experience developing software in Python and/or other object-oriented software languages
• Familiarity with Git and distributed version control
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly present information to the team
• The desire to work in a collaborative environment and build meaningful relationships with your manager and team
• Must be able to prioritize your tasks with guidance, and not be afraid to ask for help when needed
• Self-motivation with the desire to create high-quality work
• Be active in seeking out ways to learn every day, and be interested in new ideas and technologies

Things That Would be Great if You Brought to the Table

• Experience with:
• Linux and/or Unix via the command line
• Integrated Development Environments (e.g. PyCharm, Visual Studio)
• Containerization knowledge in docker and/or podman
• Structured databases such as MySQL
• DevOps and CI/CD tool suites
• Basic networking skills
• Basic knowledge of the Linux and/or Unix operating systems

We’ll also need you to

• This position directly performs under, supports, or is exposed to a U.S. government contract. To comply with the requirements of that U.S. government contract, applicants for this position must be U.S. citizens
• Be able to work a hybrid schedule that includes at least 80% of your time (4 days per week) in office

Work Environment

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer.

We believe in-person connection drives innovation, strengthens mentorship, and builds culture, while flexibility enables employees to do their best work. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least four days per week (approximately 80%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship-building, and professional growth.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.

Base Pay Range: $70,000 - 92,000 USD

Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors and this range represents an estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Base salary is only one part of our compensation package for this role. You may also be eligible for company stock and annual bonus. Employee benefits also include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid time off and paid holidays; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.