Software Engineer

Tokyo
Remote OK - Anywhere in Japan
Full-time
August 18, 2021

Software Engineer

Overview

Infostellar connects satellite operators to their spacecraft through a global network of ground stations. The number of launches and satellites on-orbit is increasing exponentially. There is a need to make more ground stations available quickly and easily, rather than the traditional methods of developing interfaces to each ground station and expending significant resources to test, validate, operate, and maintain the system.

Our StellarStation platform revolutionises the ground-services segment of the space industry by enabling satellite operators to access a diverse and ever-increasing network of antenna sites through a single cloud based API interface. This allows operators to add ground stations to support their missions in a simple and predictable and scalable manner.

Our Software Engineers are a crucial part of our competitive niche. This role brings together unique challenges and the inherent excitement of working in the space industry.

Our team is:

Developing a cloud based platform which enables our satellite operator customers to access their satellites through a virtualized global ground station network.
Creating fast and scalable backend systems on a global infrastructure to serve an international group of commercial, government, and academia customers.
Building user access points in the form of public facing APIs and UIs for pass scheduling, SLA monitoring, billing, and more.
Assisting the users and partners to integrate with the StellarStation platform
Ensuring the platform secure and reliable by developing technical solutions and new tools to help mitigate security and reliability vulnerabilities and automate repeatable tasks

If you're driven by interesting, challenging problems that require sound software engineering solutions, and have always dreamed of working and supporting our customers in the space industry, then do reach out to us. We're building something special!

We are currently recruiting a range of software engineers from mid to senior level.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain complex systems and/or components
Support clients and partners as they connect and use the StellarStation platform
Iterate in a fast and disciplined manner, by employing good agile and continuous integration practices
Collaborate in code quality validation in the form of code reviews and pair programming
Analyse and improve efficiency, scalability, and stability of products and services
Manage individual project priorities, deadlines, and deliverables

Minimum Qualifications

BS degree in Computer Science, a similar technical field of study, or equivalent practical experience
Development experience on Unix / Linux
Strong understanding of Object Oriented Programming rules, data types and garbage collection in one or more of the programming languages: Java / Kotlin / Groovy / Scala / Go / C++ / C#
Strong understanding of fundamental programming practices, allowing for fast learning and implementation of any mainstream programming language
Strong understanding of testing practices and experience in one or more of testing types: Unit / Integration / Acceptance / UI / Performance tests
Experience in deploying services, as well as working with Kubernetes, in one or more of the major cloud services: AWS / GCP / Azure
Experience writing gRPC microservices interconnected with Protocol Buffers
Experience working with two or more of the following: web application development, distributed and parallel systems, edge computing, developing large software systems, and/or security software development

Preferred Qualifications

Experience leading development and operation of large-scale service with dozens of users or more
Experience creating an edge computing platform allowing users to run custom, untrusted software on a shared compute node
Software development team leadership or management experience
Experience with client consultation and system analysis, for bringing value to the customer in a structured and well designed manner
Scrum project management methodology
Experience with one or more of the following: Continuous Integration with Trunk Based Development, Test Driven Development, Behaviour Driven Development, Pair Programming
English is the official language of Infostellar. Japanese or other language skills are a plus.

Development environment

Our microservices are written using Java (v11+) built on Armeria and gRPC
Please have a look at our open source repositories: https://github.com/infostellarinc/
We do infrastructure management using Terraform and orchestrate our containers using Kubernetes
All of our services are in Google Cloud
We use Gradle to automate our builds
Source code management (SCM) is Git + GitHub
We develop on Linux using IntelliJ or Visual Studio Code
Our microservices are containerized and run on GKE
The StarPass (edge server placed at the ground station) core components are written in Golang
StarPass uses Docker for running applications

APPLY NOW ➜

About Infostellar

インフォステラは、人工衛星向けアンテナシェアリングプラットフォームを開発することで、宇宙通信の未来に挑戦する日本発のグローバルスタートアップです。クラウドベースの地上局アグリゲーター「StellarStation」により、柔軟で拡張性の高い地上局サービスを提供しています。衛星運用者の地上セグメントへの参入障壁を下げることで、新しい宇宙ビジネスの成功を支援しています。2016年に設立し、東京に本社、英国に欧州オフィスを構えています。小規模ですがスピード感があり、航空宇宙、エンジニアリング、およびスタートアップのバックグラウンドを持つ多様で優秀な専門家が活躍する優秀なチームです。（求める英語力：ビジネスレベル以上。日本語力は必須ではありません。）

They provide flexible and scalable ground station services enabled by our cloud platform, 'StellarStation', which virtualizes ground station networks. By lowering the barriers to entry in the ground segment, Infostellar empowers NewSpace businesses to build better missions and improve the quality of their service. Founded in 2016, Infostellar is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, and has its European office in the UK.

Japanese Language Policy
Infostellar does not require any of their members to be native Japanese speakers. Due to the nature of their business and their customer base, it is more important for them to have members who speak fluent/business-level English instead of Japanese. Of course, they welcome individuals who speak both languages, but the main language they use in the office is English, so that is the only language requirement.
Visa Sponsorship
We do sponsor visas for candidates living outside of Japan.
Paid Leave
- Annual Paid Leave: up to 10 days during the first year, with additional days added in the subsequent years
- OpenPTO policy (This allows employees to apply for additional paid leaves with the manager’s approval, in excess of the number of granted annual paid leave days)
- 12 days of paid Sick leave (if applicable)
- Congratulation or condolence leave (marriage or immediate family death)
- Maternity and paternity leave
- Childcare leave
- Travel recovery leave
Benefits
📍Twice per month co-working day at Co-working space. (Frequency may change.)

🌎 Translation/interpretation support

🚃 Commuter allowance (Currently, members work mainly from home, so Infostellar pays a WFH allowance instead )

💻 The latest equipment - computer, monitor

🕕 Flexible working hours
Engineer Interview Process
Engineering Jobs
1. HR Interview
2. Technical Interview round 1 (w/ Senior Engineer includes a technical test)
3. Technical interview round 2 (w/ Engineering Manager no technical test)
4. If necessary (position depending) there may be an interview with senior management
Remote Work
Infostellar is now working in a hybrid work style. They work remotely and gather at the co-working space in Tokyo twice per month to enhance communication across the team. The frequency of the meet-up may change in the future.
Work style
Infostellar’s office hours are 10:00am - 7:00pm JST and their core hours are from 12:00pm until 4:00pm. Most meetings happen between 12:00pm - 4:00pm and their members can schedule their working day around the core hours e.g. come in earlier/later, etc. At times they have meetings with customers in time zones that require working odd hours, but they allow members to adjust their day/schedules accordingly.
Diversity
Infostellar does not have a diversity policy, but they try to be inclusive and ensure they have a diverse team. With English being the working language, it ensures that their non-Japanese members do not feel left out as all communication is in a common language. Irrespective of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other identifying feature, they do their best to ensure they are providing equal opportunities for all their members, current and future. Infostellar has open communication guidelines and encourages members to work closely with the People Operations team to ensure that they are creating a positive and harmonious work environment.
Parents and Family
60% of Infostellar’s members have children. Their flexible working policy allows for their members with families to schedule their working day to ensure optimal family time. Infostellor encourages parents to bring their children into the office. During the first year of Infostellar’s life, their CEO and Co-Founder was pregnant with her first child, so they have always been very supportive and understanding of children and families. The same policy extends to the broader family and to children, too!

They also offer paid childcare leave.