Piper Companies
Software Engineer - Command & Control (C2)
Location: Hybrid (Arvada, CO or Seattle, WA preferred; also considering DC and El Segundo, CA)
Salary: $120K-$180K (based on experience)
Clearance Required: Active US Security Clearance (TS/SCI)
ZP Group is seeking a Software Engineer to join a Command & Control (C2) team, focused on building and integrating software solutions for satellite vehicles. You'll help enable users to operate large, heterogeneous constellations through our platform-treating satellites like servers. This role is critical to supporting new government customer work, increasing urgency around key product milestones, and managing growing complexity in our systems.
You'll work alongside a multidisciplinary team, including a recently hired engineer focused on patching, and contribute to long-term product development efforts. Your work will span satellite C2, hardware/software integration, and secure deployment into SCIF environments for DoD and IC customers.
Important: This role requires deep familiarity with cryptographic systems . You must understand how to integrate NSA Type 1 encryption algorithms into satellite command and control workflows. While you won't be implementing cryptographic algorithms from scratch, you must be able to work with systems that use them and understand their operational constraints.
What You'll Do Develop and integrate satellite C2 software, focusing on secure, scalable, and high-performance systems. Collaborate with platform engineers to deploy software into Kubernetes environments, especially for DoD use cases. Integrate NSA Type 1 encryption algorithms into C2 workflows (e.g., PEGASUS, CARIBOU). Work closely with government customers to onboard new satellite missions and integrate other Quindar products into secure environments. Apply your understanding of the satellite ecosystem, including hardware/software integration for autonomous vehicles. Tech Stack & Skills
Languages: Python (primary), Rust (for performance-critical components), C++ (acceptable substitute for Rust), Ruby (integration familiarity helpful). Protocols & Standards: CCSDS, CSP, CFDP, XTCE, MIB, IP. Security & Encryption: AES-256 (GCM, CFB, ECB), NSA Type 1 (PEGASUS, CARIBOU). Must have experience integrating cryptographic systems. DevOps & Platforms: Kubernetes (deployment focus), AWS, Git/GitHub, DevSecOps practices. Databases: Relational and time-series. Preferred: Experience with open-source software and real-time embedded systems. Soft Skills
Strong troubleshooting and technical analysis. Highly adaptable and creative problem solver. Scalable thinking for C2 proliferation. Independent and self-driven with minimal supervision. High standards for software quality, resilience, and maintainability. Excellent cross-functional communication, including customer-facing interactions. Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field. 3+ years of experience in satellite C2 or complex hardware/software integration. Must have active TS/SCI clearance. Must have experience working with cryptographic systems, especially NSA Type 1 integrations.
Location: Hybrid (Arvada, CO or Seattle, WA preferred; also considering DC and El Segundo, CA)
Salary: $120K-$180K (based on experience)
Clearance Required: Active US Security Clearance (TS/SCI)
ZP Group is seeking a Software Engineer to join a Command & Control (C2) team, focused on building and integrating software solutions for satellite vehicles. You'll help enable users to operate large, heterogeneous constellations through our platform-treating satellites like servers. This role is critical to supporting new government customer work, increasing urgency around key product milestones, and managing growing complexity in our systems.
You'll work alongside a multidisciplinary team, including a recently hired engineer focused on patching, and contribute to long-term product development efforts. Your work will span satellite C2, hardware/software integration, and secure deployment into SCIF environments for DoD and IC customers.
Important: This role requires deep familiarity with cryptographic systems . You must understand how to integrate NSA Type 1 encryption algorithms into satellite command and control workflows. While you won't be implementing cryptographic algorithms from scratch, you must be able to work with systems that use them and understand their operational constraints.
What You'll Do Develop and integrate satellite C2 software, focusing on secure, scalable, and high-performance systems. Collaborate with platform engineers to deploy software into Kubernetes environments, especially for DoD use cases. Integrate NSA Type 1 encryption algorithms into C2 workflows (e.g., PEGASUS, CARIBOU). Work closely with government customers to onboard new satellite missions and integrate other Quindar products into secure environments. Apply your understanding of the satellite ecosystem, including hardware/software integration for autonomous vehicles. Tech Stack & Skills
Languages: Python (primary), Rust (for performance-critical components), C++ (acceptable substitute for Rust), Ruby (integration familiarity helpful). Protocols & Standards: CCSDS, CSP, CFDP, XTCE, MIB, IP. Security & Encryption: AES-256 (GCM, CFB, ECB), NSA Type 1 (PEGASUS, CARIBOU). Must have experience integrating cryptographic systems. DevOps & Platforms: Kubernetes (deployment focus), AWS, Git/GitHub, DevSecOps practices. Databases: Relational and time-series. Preferred: Experience with open-source software and real-time embedded systems. Soft Skills
Strong troubleshooting and technical analysis. Highly adaptable and creative problem solver. Scalable thinking for C2 proliferation. Independent and self-driven with minimal supervision. High standards for software quality, resilience, and maintainability. Excellent cross-functional communication, including customer-facing interactions. Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field. 3+ years of experience in satellite C2 or complex hardware/software integration. Must have active TS/SCI clearance. Must have experience working with cryptographic systems, especially NSA Type 1 integrations.