Senior Software Engineer at Iridium in Tempe, AZ

Company Overview

Iridium is an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company with bragging rights to the only network that offers voice and data connectivity anywhere in the world. For over 20 years, Iridium’s unique network and services have supported critical communications needs for individuals, businesses, and the evolving Internet of Things.

At Iridium, we understand the importance of staying connected and the limitations of traditional communications networks. People across the globe, including first responders, humanitarians, global militaries, scientific researchers, and lone workers, as well as ships, aircraft and remote operations all rely on Iridium to stay connected. We take our responsibility for providing these essential communications very seriously and pride ourselves on offering a reliable lifeline when needed. Likewise, Iridium is committed to providing an exciting and innovative workplace, where employees are challenged to think outside the box and collaborate on new, bold ideas and solutions. Our talented teams are passionate about their work and the impact our company makes around the world. Iridium fosters an empowering and inclusive culture that allows employees to genuinely be their best selves. We are looking for others who want to join this truly unique company that celebrates our employees and provides the opportunity to truly make a difference in the world.

What We’re Looking For:

If you have experience developing complex backend software solutions and enjoy working in a collaborative environment, you’ll be excited about the Sr. Software Engineer opportunity on our Gateway Development team. In this role, you will lead the design, implementation, build, integration, and deployment of key software components within the Iridium Gateway. You will apply your expertise to evaluate existing and newly proposed gateway software features, identify solutions, and collaborate with stakeholders to determine the optimal approach. Success in this role requires the ability to manage your own workload effectively while partnering closely with other members of the gateway software development team to design, build, and deploy new products for the Iridium Gateway.

What You’ll Do:

• Design and develop complex, mission-critical, telecommunications-grade software with a strong emphasis on quality, performance, reliability, and long-term maintainability
• Triage, diagnose and fix issues in deployed (complex) software
• Work with the team, sometimes outside of normal business hours, to quickly and effectively solve outages / issues (approximately 1-3 per quarter)
• Ensure high code quality by developing and following modern development best practices and fully engaging in all phases of the software development lifecycle
• Apply strong analytical and critical‑thinking skills to assess complex situations, diagnose issues, and propose effective, well‑reasoned solutions
• Communicate proactively with teammates and stakeholders, raising questions or concerns early and seeking support when needed to keep work on track
• Build trusted, productive relationships across teams by demonstrating confidence, technical credibility, and a collaborative mindset
• Identify risks early in the development process and drive clear mitigation strategies to reduce impact and maintain project momentum
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive work environment that encourages knowledge sharing, open communication, and teamwork
• Facilitate and support knowledge transfer, cross-training efforts, and aid in the training and mentoring of early career professionals throughout the team
• Motivate and support the team, especially during high‑pressure or time‑sensitive periods to ensure goals are met and everyone can perform at their best

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer system engineering, or related engineering field
• 8+ years of experience building software solutions for telecommunications or other mission‑critical systems.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate on a technical and non-technical level with peers both inside and outside of the team
• Be a strategic thinker who demonstrates good judgment and decisiveness, and is able to analyze a situation or problem and come up with effective solutions
• Can thrive in a dynamic environment by handling multiple tasks and managing shifting priorities
• Be proactive in sharing knowledge you’ve learned with others
• Proficiency in C and C++ with 5+ years of experience developing software tools and applications
• Proficiency developing software for Linux/Redhat Operating Systems and using Databases such as mySQL
• Knowledge of and experience with all aspects of the Software Development Life Cycle process
• Proven experience of Tool Suites such as Gitlab, Jira, and Confluence
• Must be able to prioritize key tasks and have a strong sense of ownership over your work
• Be active in seeking out ways to continuously improve yourself and gain new knowledge

Things That Would be Great if You Brought to the Table:

• Programming languages such as Python, Go, Bash, Perl
• Databases: MySQL
• Protocols: IP, SIP, TCP, UDP
• Telecom industry specs and architecture: 3GPP, ITU
• Working experience of AWS development techniques

We’ll also need you to:

• Be on call to support operational issues
• Be able to travel up to 20% of the time
• Be able to work a hybrid schedule that includes at least 60% of your time (3 days per week) in office
• Must be a US Citizen

Work Environment:

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer.

We believe in-person connection drives innovation, strengthens mentorship, and builds culture, while flexibility enables employees to do their best work. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least three days per week (approximately 60%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship-building, and professional growth.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.