Software Engineer

Introduction

Serco is a trusted leader in Space Services, with a proud history spanning over 55 years and a track record of supporting more than 50 space missions for world-renowned agencies like ESA and NASA. Our expertise covers the entire space lifecycle—from satellite testing and launch services to spacecraft operations, space surveillance, and data management—making us a key partner in advancing national strategies and driving innovation in the New Space era.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Full Stack Software Engineer, who is excited to work in the unique environment of the European Space Agency (ESA), contributing to the development and support of software for astronomical missions. If you are passionate about space science, high quality engineering, collaborative work and are prepared to travel, we’d love to hear from you.

The initial location of the position will be Spain with a hybrid working arrangement from ESAC, however the successful candidate will be required to spend 1 or 2 weeks per month working from Germany.

The Community You Will Join

You will work in an international, diverse team, surrounded by top-tier scientists, engineers, and technical experts who inspire and challenge you every day. You’ll have ongoing opportunities to grow through specialized training and professional development tailored to the space sector, all while being part of a company that genuinely values work-life balance, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to excellence. As you contribute to innovative projects and mission-critical systems, you’ll gain hands-on exposure to cutting-edge technologies and collaborate closely with major space agencies, becoming part of something truly extraordinary.

The Difference You Will Make

You will contribute directly to some of Europe’s most exciting space programmes, from Earth observation and climate monitoring to satellite navigation and space safety. Your work will play a vital role in ensuring mission success, enabling better decision-making on Earth and driving innovation in orbit. Whether you’re helping managing spacecraft operations, analysing mission data, or supporting software and systems development, your expertise will help move Europe’s space ambitions forward.

Your Mission

You will step into a mission where software becomes the quiet backbone of space exploration. You will build and sustain high-performance tools and services that support ESA’s astronomical missions, knowing that your work will help scientists look deeper into the universe. You will work side by side with an Agile team, shaping ideas into real solutions as you design, implement, test, and deploy software together. Along the way, you will strengthen reliability by contributing to continuous integration pipelines, containerized environments, and resilient services that are built to last. You will design, develop, and maintain full-stack applications, moving fluidly between Java, Python, and Angular, and you will give data a solid foundation by implementing and optimizing relational databases such as PostgreSQL and MySQL. You will regularly take part in code reviews and testing, refining both the software and your craft through shared standards and collaboration. As the systems grow, you will help design scalable architectures capable of supporting long-term space operations, ensuring that today’s solutions can meet tomorrow’s challenges. Throughout the journey, you will stay curious and forward-looking, keeping up with emerging technologies and best practices so you can bring fresh ideas and innovation into every project you touch.

What You Bring to the Mission

You will meet the mandatory requirements by bringing senior-level Python development experience, confidently using NumPy and related scientific libraries to handle complex, data-intensive challenges. You will design and consume RESTful services defined through OpenAPI specifications, while consistently applying strong software engineering best practices to produce reliable and maintainable code. Alongside Python, you will develop robust Java applications with the Spring Framework, containerize services using Docker, and work effectively within Agile methodologies, collaborating closely with your team to deliver high-quality solutions.

You will also bring desirable experience that adds extra strength to the mission, applying knowledge of Kubernetes for deployment and orchestration and working with tools such as Helm to support scalable, modern infrastructures. When needed, you will extend your contribution to the user-facing side of the systems, using Angular or similar frontend frameworks to help deliver cohesive, end-to-end applications.

What We Offer: More Than Just a Job

At Serco, we believe your career should come with more than a payslip, it should come with peace of mind, flexibility, and opportunities to thrive. That’s why we’ve built a benefits package designed to support you and your family, both inside and outside of work.

You will be rewarded with a competitive salary that reflects your skills and impact. As you grow, you will build more than just a job, you will build a career in the space industry, with opportunities to learn, progress, and contribute to projects that go beyond Earth.

You will be supported with a comprehensive benefits package, including health and life insurance, giving you peace of mind so you can focus on your work. You will connect with your colleagues through engaging company events that foster team spirit and make collaboration feel natural.

You will benefit from a hybrid working model that supports a healthy work–life balance, with the flexibility to manage your time effectively. You will also work in an international environment, collaborating with diverse teams and gaining global exposure while contributing to a shared mission.