Sr. Staff Software Engineer

About the Role Astra is seeking a Sr. Staff Software Engineer to architect and build systems that automate rocket testing, manufacturing, and launch operations. You will design tools to collect and analyze high-speed telemetry data, mentor engineers, and shape technical direction for mission-critical software in a fast-paced, AI-forward environment. What You'll Do

• Architect: Design and lead the development of systems that automate rocket testing, manufacturing, and launch operations across the organization.
• Innovate: Invent new approaches to high-speed data collection, real-time telemetry analysis, and control systems for critical operations.
• Lead: Drive technical direction, mentor engineers, and establish best practices for building mission-critical software.
• Integrate: Work across engineering, manufacturing, and operations teams to understand end-to-end workflows and build cohesive solutions.
• Scale: Build cloud-native infrastructure and services with high availability and high reliability that enable fast iteration.
• Collaborate: Partner with teams of diverse backgrounds and skill sets, bringing empathy and technical depth to every interaction. What We're Looking For
• 12+ years extensive experience building production software systems, with deep expertise in both legacy and modern technologies
• Expert-level proficiency in Python and TypeScript, with experience working across C/C++, Go, and other languages
• Proven track record of architecting and delivering cloud-native systems with high availability and reliability
• Deep experience with system design, data pipelines, real-time telemetry systems, and time-series databases
• Strong understanding of API design patterns and frameworks (REST, gRPC, JSON, YAML, Protobuf)
• Experience leading technical initiatives, mentoring engineers, and driving architectural decisions
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, reactive environment where software touches every facet of the organization
• Passion for tackling hard, novel problems and inventing new solutions
• Exceptional attention to detail and sense of urgency—you understand we work with high voltage, explosives, and cryogenic materials
• Strong collaboration and communication skills with empathy for diverse teams and stakeholders Nice to Have
• Experience in aerospace, robotics, or hardware-software integration systems
• Contributions to open source projects or technical leadership in the broader community
• Background in control systems, packet tracing, or embedded systems
• Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and modern cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure)
• Track record of scaling teams or technical practices Compensation & Benefits
• Salary range: $179,140-240,000 per year
• The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base salary range in the San Francisco Bay Area and excludes additional earnings such as bonus and benefits.
• If your salary requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply.
• ITAR/EAR compliance and related regulations apply to this role.