Senior Signal Processing Engineer

About Capella Space

Capella Space is a pioneer in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite technology and space-based signal intelligence. We empower government, commercial, and research organizations around the world with high-resolution, timely Earth insights that drive better decisions - across defense and intelligence, disaster response, infrastructure monitoring, environmental protection, energy, and more.

As a U.S.-based company, Capella designs, builds, and operates an advanced constellation of commercial SAR satellites in orbit today. Our satellites are backed by a fully automated tasking, collection, and delivery platform, delivering fast, reliable insights when and where our customers need them most. As a subsidiary of IonQ, a global leader in quantum computing, Capella is charting the future of Earth observation. Together, we’re on a mission to bring quantum computing to space - unlocking ultra-secure, encrypted uplink and downlink capabilities, reducing latency, and enabling powerful on-orbit analytics. This visionary integration of advanced remote sensing and quantum technology will support customers with the highest level of data fidelity, security, and speed.

Capella was named one ofFast Company’s 10 Most Innovative Companies in Space in 2023and is a trusted partner of the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office, and allied government agencies worldwide. Built In recognized IonQ on three of its 2025 Best Places to Worklists.

What Makes Capella Unique?

At Capella, we don’t just imagine what’s possible - we build it. We’re a mission-driven team fueled by curiosity, grit, and a shared commitment to redefining the limits of space innovation. Our environment is fast paced, rooted in humble collaboration. Every team member plays a critical role in shaping the future of our technology and our industry. If you're ready to roll up your sleeves and help solve problems that others call impossible—we're the place for you. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere, and we thrive on diverse perspectives that help us move faster, think deeper, and push the boundaries of innovation. Whether you're new to the space industry or a seasoned expert, you'll find a team that values creativity, integrity, and bold thinking. Join us as we build the future of SAR—and take quantum to space.

About the Role

Capella is looking for a Senior Signal Processing Engineer to join the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Processing Team. As part of the team, you will directly contribute to and influence the variety of algorithms and systems that turn raw Capella radar data into usable geospatial products. Additionally, you’ll get exposure to calibration, commissioning and operations of radar instruments. In this role, you’ll be able to demonstrate a wide variety of technical prowess to contribute across of breadth of different systems, from low-level and highly optimized algorithms to CI/CD pipelining and infrastructure-as-code. Successful candidates will show an excellent understanding of SAR and radar technologies or have experience with an adjacent signal processing field.All members of the SAR Processing team are expected to do an on-call component responding to anomalies in our system. Occasional travel is required.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of image and signal processing experience
• Excellent foundational mathematics and analytic skills
• Proficient in Python (+ its scientific computing ecosystem) and C/C++
• Proficient with modern software development tools, like Git and Docker
• Excellent and proactive communication
• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable. Learn more about ITARhere
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Preferred:

• PhD or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or an equivalent combination of technical education and work experience related to SAR signal processing.
• SAR imagery analyst expertise
• Project management tools like JIRA & Confluence
• GIS Systems and/or geospatial data products and standards
• CUDA or similar GPGPU language
• Remote software development on machines that may not be on your desk
• Experience with spaceborne Earth observation systems

Compensation