Application Guide
How to Apply for Senior Software Engineer
at Satellogic
🏢 About Satellogic
Satellogic is unique as a company that builds its own satellite constellation to provide high-frequency, high-resolution Earth observation data specifically for climate insights. Unlike many space companies focused on communications or exploration, Satellogic's mission centers on delivering actionable, planet-wide environmental intelligence. Working here means directly contributing to technology that monitors climate change and supports sustainability initiatives from space.
About This Role
This Senior Software Engineer role is critical as you'll be designing and maintaining the GNU/Linux embedded operating system and Board Support Package (BSP) that runs on Satellogic's satellite computers. You'll serve as the primary technical bridge between software and electronics teams, influencing hardware decisions through schematic reviews while ensuring the OS supports both platform and application software needs. Your work directly impacts satellite reliability and the quality of Earth observation data collected for climate analysis.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing schematics for upcoming satellite hardware revisions with the electronics team, then implementing corresponding BSP updates in C for new peripherals. You'd likely spend time debugging a kernel issue reported by the operations team from an orbiting satellite, using Python scripts to analyze telemetry data. Collaboration with platform and applications teams would occur to ensure OS changes support their upcoming software deployments while maintaining system stability.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Satellogic Is Looking For
- Has 4+ years of professional GNU/Linux development experience with deep understanding of kernel configuration, device drivers, and system optimization for resource-constrained environments
- Possesses 2+ years each in Python and C development, specifically for embedded systems where Python might handle higher-level control/logging and C handles performance-critical or hardware-interfacing components
- Demonstrates experience as a technical liaison between software and hardware teams, able to review schematics and provide actionable feedback on hardware-software integration
- Shows interest or experience in aerospace/space systems, particularly with understanding the unique constraints of satellite computing (radiation tolerance, power management, remote debugging)
📝 Tips for Applying to Satellogic
Highlight specific GNU/Linux embedded projects where you configured custom kernels or BSPs, especially if they involved resource constraints similar to satellites (limited memory, power, or compute)
Detail your experience with hardware-software co-design, providing concrete examples of how you influenced hardware decisions through schematic reviews or brought up new boards
Mention any experience with space, aerospace, or remote systems (even if not satellites) to show understanding of reliability requirements and remote operation challenges
Quantify your Python and C experience separately, specifying what types of embedded software you developed in each language (e.g., 'Used Python for telemetry processing and C for device driver development')
Reference Satellogic's climate mission explicitly in your application materials to demonstrate alignment with their purpose beyond just technical qualifications
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your experience bridging software and hardware teams, specifically how you've provided feedback on schematics or influenced hardware design decisions", 'Specific GNU/Linux embedded projects where you developed or maintained BSPs/OS for constrained environments, highlighting any reliability or remote management features', 'How your background in both Python and C has enabled you to work across different layers of embedded systems, from low-level drivers to higher-level applications', "Why Satellogic's climate-focused mission resonates with you and how your work could contribute to actionable Earth observation insights"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Satellogic's satellite constellation and Aleph platform - understand their current fleet capabilities and how data is processed for climate insights
- → The company's specific climate applications mentioned in their materials (agriculture, deforestation, emissions monitoring) to understand the end-use of their technology
- → Technical publications or talks by Satellogic engineers about their satellite architecture or software stack
- → Uruguay's growing tech/space sector and how Satellogic fits into that ecosystem, as the role is based there
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Presenting only desktop/server Linux experience without emphasizing embedded-specific aspects like cross-compilation, real-time considerations, or resource constraints
- Treating Python and C experience as interchangeable rather than demonstrating understanding of when each is appropriate in embedded systems
- Failing to show hardware awareness or experience collaborating with electronics teams, which is explicitly mentioned as a core responsibility
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!