Engineering Lead – Prism

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company focused on delivering advanced communications technology for satellite missions. We are developing a global network of phased array ground stations to enable reliable communication for national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. Our vertically integrated approach allows us to design, build, and deploy scalable systems that support the next generation of space missions. We are seeking an Engineering Lead for our Prism parabolic dish product line to oversee the software development for embedded systems and backend services.

Responsibilities:

• Own the Prism software end to end, including embedded software on the antenna and backend services.
• Set design direction across the embedded/backend interface, defining state management and control loops.
• Accelerate the develop-test-integrate loop by building hardware-in-the-loop rigs and test automation.
• Manage telemetry and automation for the product, including calibration and fault recovery processes.
• Define and version the interface exposed by Prism to the platform, ensuring stability for the Cloud team.
• Lead a team of engineers, providing technical direction, mentorship, and design reviews as the team grows.
• Collaborate with FPGA, DSP, RF, and mechanical engineers to determine software functionality and requirements.
• Engage hands-on in the lab and at sites for integration needs.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of professional software development experience.
• 3+ years of experience in production software that controls or automates physical hardware.
• Experience with both embedded software and backend systems, with insights on their integration.
• Proven engineering leadership or tech lead experience, with a history of mentoring and team success.
• Deep understanding of service communication design, including API design and failure handling.
• Strong systems programming skills in languages like Rust, Go, or C++.
• Experience in building test infrastructure for hardware integration.

Skills:

• Embedded software development
• Backend service architecture
• API and interface design
• Systems programming
• Engineering leadership
• Test automation and infrastructure
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams