Astranis full-stack engineer: roles, salary, and what to know in 2026
Astranis full-stack engineer: roles, salary, and what to know in 2026
Astranis Space Technologies builds MicroGEO satellites — small, dedicated geostationary communications satellites that provide broadband to underserved markets. The company has approximately 450 employees, a $1.6 billion valuation (Series D, July 2024), and over $1 billion in satellite services sold on contract. Software and full-stack engineering roles are central to their satellite operations and ground systems.
What Astranis builds
Unlike mega-constellations (Starlink, OneWeb) that use thousands of LEO satellites, Astranis puts small dedicated satellites in geostationary orbit — each one serves a specific customer or region. This approach requires fewer launches but demands more from each spacecraft.
Satellite status (2026):
- 5 MicroGEO satellites launched total
- 3 satellites from the December 2024 Falcon 9 launch (for Anuvu and Peru) are in service
- 1 satellite (UtilitySat for Alaska) stranded in transfer orbit — likely total loss (~$30M)
- Earlier Arcturus satellite has a solar array drive issue, providing partial service
- Next launch: 5 more satellites booked on a dedicated Falcon 9 in 2025
Key customers: Anuvu (in-flight connectivity), Thaicom (Thailand), Orbith (Argentina), APCO Networks (Mexico), Pacific Dataport (Alaska).
Software engineering roles
Astranis hires software engineers across satellite operations, ground systems, and mission planning. The "full-stack" scope is broad — from flight software to web-based ground control interfaces to data pipelines for satellite telemetry.
Salary ranges (software engineering):
| Level | Base Salary | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $115K–$130K | $150K–$170K |
| Mid | $128K–$160K | $175K–$200K |
| Senior | $160K–$200K+ | $200K–$231K+ |
Total compensation includes equity (pre-IPO), which could be significant given the $1.6B valuation. Glassdoor software engineers rate compensation 3.6/5.
Two of Astranis's five launched satellites have had significant anomalies — UtilitySat stranded in transfer orbit and Arcturus with a solar array drive issue. For engineers, this is both a risk (company credibility) and an opportunity (reliability engineering is now a top priority). The next launches will be critical for proving the MicroGEO model works at scale.
Culture and ratings
- Glassdoor: 3.8/5 (72 reviews)
- Work environment: In-person 5 days/week across 3 continents
- Hiring: 87–127 open positions across engineering disciplines
- Funding: $753M raised total, $200M Series D (July 2024, led by Fidelity and Baillie Gifford)
Astranis is a startup-paced environment focused on rapid satellite production. With 87–127 open roles, the company is actively scaling for upcoming launches.
How to apply
Apply through Astranis's Greenhouse job board at astranis.com/careers. The interview process includes technical screens and on-site sessions. For software roles, expect systems design questions and domain knowledge about satellite communications or distributed systems.
Browse satellite engineering jobs on Zero G Talent, or compare with SpaceX careers (Starlink), Lockheed Martin careers, or Northrop Grumman careers.
