Solutions Engineer - Mission Solutions

Capella Space stands at the forefront of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Earth observation intelligence and advanced satellite technologies. We provide customers in governments, academia, and commercial sectors with reliable information that enables unparalleled understanding of the world. Our mission is centered on delivering timely and reliable Earth imagery, supporting diverse applications in defense & intelligence, disaster response, energy, environmental monitoring and more. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, Capella Space designs, manufactures and operates an advanced constellation of SAR imaging satellites. Our market-leading SAR satellites are complemented by an unmatched data infrastructure and automated ordering and delivery platform for fast, reliable insights where and when customers need it most. 

Recognized for our technological prowess, Capella Space was honored as one of the 10 most innovative companies in Space in 2023 by FASTCOMPANY. Capella Space is an internationally trusted Earth Observation data provider, working closely with the U.S. Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force, NASA, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the Canadian Government and more to make unclassified, high-resolution SAR data more accessible.  

What Makes Capella Unique? 

Capella Space is a highly collaborative team environment, providing an opportunity to work with some of the brightest minds in the space industry, though no prior space experience is needed.  We’re looking for people excited about tackling seemingly impossible challenges, learning new skills and concepts, and helping each other achieve success. Our mission and our products are meant to understand the whole world and help everyone in it - regardless of race, creed, or any other distinction. We encourage you to bring your unique perspective to help make us stronger, including applications from those who are traditionally underrepresented in tech. 

About the Role

Capella is looking for a Solutions Engineer to support our U.S. Government (USG) pre-sales efforts and help execute on government projects.

The US Government Solutions Engineer will be responsible for leading the technical conversations with U.S. Government customers and contractors, playing a critical role in the success of the Mission Solutions team and overall company. We’re looking for someone to take a forward-leaning role, leveraging their understanding of government customers (Federal, Civil, Department of Defense, and IC) to develop pathways to get the most out of our world-class SAR constellation. 

This includes becoming an expert in the Capella end-to-end solution, delivering products that provide meaningful, timely, and mission-oriented results. The community we’re serving has a wide variety of unique use cases, and understanding this environment, government systems, and how our customers work with remotely sensed and geospatial data is key to communicating the value of Capella’s SAR capabilities. If you’re passionate about geospatial technology and want a dynamic role on the front line of customer interaction, then we’d love to hear from you.

This position is located in the greater Washington D.C. metro area (VA, MD, DC) area,  working remotely, and will be an integral contributor to our mission solutions team.

This position requires special access to conduct the work and the selected candidate must be a US Citizen with an active Top Secret SCI U.S. Government security clearance.

Role Responsibilities

• Conducting collection feasibility assessments for customer tasking campaigns, solution development, and strategy in relation to project pursuits
• Working with Capella data to create capability and use case vignettes, and the API to create examples of use cases and workflows 
• Developing and conducting presentations alongside program managers to educate USG personnel of the technical capabilities of the Capella system (product offerings, demonstrations of the tasking and data delivery platforms and APIs, etc.)
• Implementation, training, and some technical support to USG customers in gov’t facilities
• Collaborating on technical proposal and instructional material in support of USG programs
• Working alongside and with product and engineering managers at Capella to develop offerings for DoD and IC customers. 
• Some travel (~20-30%) to various US federal facilities, Capella HQ, regional events and conferences

Qualifications

• Background of working with geospatial and/or remote sensing technology (SAR, EO, LiDAR, etc.)
• Experience working with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) or EO data preferred
• A strong understanding of remote sensing systems and/or satellite operations
• Ability to translate technical customer requirements into prioritizations for the product and engineering teams
• Self-starter, great communicator, and strong technical skills - able to work independently and manage multiple projects
• Excellent communication, writing, and cross-team collaboration skills
• Clear documentation skills and ability to respond to written requests in a concise and effective manner
• Some experience or interest in developing proof-of-concept frameworks to demonstrate unions between multiple solutions
• Bachelor’s degree or higher or an equivalent combination of technical education and work experience.
• Experience with APIs, Python and Jupyther Notebook, and other geospatial toolboxes
• 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 ITAR here.

Additional Beneficial Skills:

• Some experience in technical proposal development 
• Some experience using Remote Sensing and GIS tools in Government systems
• 5+ years’ experience working with the US government and DoD/IC
• Some experience collaborating with engineering teams and customer teams to support adoption of complex product features and capabilities

Compensation 

The annual salary range for this role as it is posted is $160,000 - $240,000.  The final job level and annual salary will be determined based on the education, qualification, knowledge, skills, ability, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location and calibrated against relevant market data and internal team equity.  Benefits listed in this posting may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Capella Space.   

Benefits/Perks 

In addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative, collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team, we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:

• We provide extensive medical coverage, including strong vision and dental plans, flexible spending accounts, and additional supplemental health options.
• Stock option grants for new hires 
• 401K Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Generous Parental Leave 
• Paid Flexible Time Off Policy 
• Lifestyle Spending Account 
• Commuter & Parking Benefits 
• Mental Health Resources 
• Monthly Phone Stipend 
• Daily provided lunches and stocked kitchens. 
• Furry friends? We’ve got you covered with dog-friendly work environment & them with pet insurance options

Equal Opportunity Statement 

Capella Space is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, and upholding equitable hiring practices. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic under federal, state, or local law, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities, women, Veterans, and those with disabilities to apply, and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process. If you need assistance or require an accommodation during the job application process, please notify [email protected] 

To learn more about us, explore our site: https://www.capellaspace.com/  and follow us on X and LinkedIn to see our SAR imagery!