Staff Python Engineer, Ground Software
Bay Area, California | Full-Time Onsite
Industry: Aerospace, Software Infrastructure, Data Acquisition
A small team in the Bay Area is hiring a Staff Python Engineer to help build and scale the ground software systems that support engine testing, data pipelines, and real-time visibility into what’s happening on the hardware side.
This is a hands-on, high-trust role where you’ll design and run the systems that connect physical test stands to cloud-based infrastructure. You’ll own services that move high-speed time-series data from test hardware into useful tools for engineering, operations, and manufacturing.
It’s ideal for someone who actually likes writing Python, not just someone who’s used it on the side. You should be able to talk through a system you’ve built, not just a project you’ve worked on. The more hardware-aware you are, the better.
What You’ll Be Doing
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Build and improve data acquisition systems that collect and move high-speed time-series data from live test hardware
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Write Python services that handle ingestion, storage, and cloud handoff of telemetry and test data
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Work directly with test engineers and controls teams to automate and support systems like engine stands and vacuum chambers
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Design and deploy containerized services to run on Kubernetes and scale with demand
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Define architecture and requirements for backend systems that integrate tightly with physical infrastructure
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Handle the full lifecycle of data, from raw capture on-site to structured access and visualization tools
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Work closely with other teams to ensure your tools solve real problems, not just meet spec
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Write clean, testable, and documented Python that runs reliably under pressure
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Mentor other engineers, give technical guidance, and help grow the team’s overall capability
✅ What You’ll Need
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7+ years of experience writing production Python, ideally in environments involving data or hardware
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Comfort working with real systems, not just web apps
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Solid experience managing large streams of time-series or telemetry data
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Hands-on familiarity with Kubernetes, cloud services like AWS, and tools like S3, Kafka, or InfluxDB
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Strong ability to think about architecture, performance, and reliability
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Clear communicator who can explain design choices to teammates across software, hardware, and test
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Background working on software that interacts with physical equipment or embedded systems
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Strong version control and testing habits
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A habit of taking ownership and finishing what you start
⭐ Bonus Points For
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Experience in aerospace, robotics, or other fields where software meets hardware
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Experience leading or owning projects with a measurable outcome
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Understanding of controls or embedded interfaces
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Interest in tools that make data more accessible to users, including simple frontends or dashboards
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Previous involvement in test labs or automated equipment setups
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A practical mindset about AI and automation, with opinions you can back up
Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
Adam Slade