Ground Systems Engineer

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Ground Systems Integration Engineer (Active TS/SCI required) to join Quindar, the startup founded by the ex-OneWeb team that operated one of the largest constellations ever built. This is a true builder role: every week you'll take a new satellite's ICD, translate it into working command & telemetry inside Quindar's cloud-native platform, and get it talking flawlessly over CCSDS, CSP, CFDP, XTCE. Think low-level protocol parsing, real-time debugging with simulators and hardware-in-the-loop, and turning raw spacecraft frames into something operators can use with a single click.

Job overview:

• Write the code (mostly Python & C++) that connects flight software to Quindar's mission management platform
• Build command dictionaries, telemetry parsers, and automation scripts from vendor ICDs
• Debug timing issues, dropped packets, encryption handshakes (AES-256, etc.), and weird edge cases at 2 a.m. when the bird is on-orbit
• Work directly with spacecraft teams and Quindar's platform engineers to proliferate solutions across entire constellations

Requirements

• Active TS/SCI clearance
• 3-8 years doing satellite C2, ground software integration, or hardware-software problems
• Strong Python and/or C++ (Rust ideal)
• Hands-on experience with CCSDS, CSP, CFDP, XTCE, MIB, COSMOS/OpenC3, or equivalent
• Willing to be at the Los Angeles, CA sit 2-3 days per week (rest is remote)

Compensation:

• Compensation: $110,000 - $170,000 + equity + full benefits
• Unlimited PTO (with 15 days mandatory)

Ground Systems Integration Engineer, Active TS/SCI clearance, Satellite command and control (C2), Spacecraft integration, Mission management platform, Cloud-native architecture, Satellite ICD interpretation, Command and telemetry processing, CCSDS protocol, CSP (CubeSat Space Protocol), CFDP (File Delivery Protocol), XTCE (XML Telemetric and Command Exchange), MIB (Mission Information Base), COSMOS / OpenC3, Real-time debugging, Hardware-in-the-loop testing, Flight software integration, Telemetry parsers, Command dictionaries, Automation scripting, Python programming, C++ programming, Rust programming (ideal), Low-level protocol parsing, Encryption handshakes, AES-256 encryption, Packet timing analysis, Dropped packet troubleshooting, Spacecraft frames decoding, Vendor ICD translation, Satellite ground software, Satellite operations support, Constellation management, Space systems engineering, Aerospace software development, Secure communications, Network protocols for space systems, On-orbit debugging, Satellite simulators, Edge case troubleshooting, Mission-critical software, Space mission automation, Satellite telemetry analysis, Ground station integration, Satellite command uplink, Telemetry downlink processing, Spacecraft data handling, Real-time operations, Secure satellite communications, Aerospace cybersecurity, Los Angeles CA hybrid work, Remote work flexibility, Equity and benefits, Startup environment, Ex-OneWeb team experience, Large satellite constellations, Builder role mindset, Problem-solving under pressure, Space industry innovation