# Principal Mission Tooling Software Engineer at The Exploration Company

> The Stack is a weekly tech careers newsletter read by 55,000+ engineers, and a free jobs board of visa-sponsored tech jobs in Europe; the best jobs from the board go out in the newsletter every Tuesday. This is one job from the board.

> Responsibilities: - Lead and mentor a team building mission

- **Company:** The Exploration Company (https://jobs.trythestack.co/companies/the-exploration-company)
- **Location:** Germany
- **Work arrangement:** On-site
- **Employment type:** Full-time
- **Experience level:** 5–10 years
- **Visa sponsorship:** Offered, according to the listing
- **Key skills:** Python 3.x, Team leadership, Software architecture, CI/CD, Build systems, Simulation tools, Software testing, HIL, SIL, Configuration data management, Autocoding, System programming, Asynchronous programming, Infrastructure as code, Bazel, Physics
- **Posted by employer:** 2026-08-11
- **Added to The Stack:** 2026-08-11
- **Status:** May no longer be active (posted more than 60 days ago)
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/the-exploration-company/33f61bce-11e6-4a26-a682-d3e4e46cccef (the employer's own application page)
- **Human page:** https://jobs.trythestack.co/jobs/principal-mission-tooling-software-engineer-the-exploration-company

## About the role

Responsibilities:
- Lead and mentor a team building mission tooling used by flight software, systems engineering, GNC and mission ops.
- Own the technical roadmap, architecture and interfaces for tools handling configuration data, autocoding, test orchestration (SIL/HIL) and deployment.
- Define and enforce high standards for code quality, test coverage, CI/CD and build reproducibility.
- Deliver robust Python-based tooling that meets user expectations for functionality, performance and reliability.
- Collaborate cross-functionally to gather requirements, validate end-to-end behaviour and resolve integration challenges.
- Drive code reviews, software audits and operational readiness for mission timelines.

Requirements:
- Strong proficiency in Python 3.x and experience with at least one system-level programming language.
- Proven track record owning complex tooling or infrastructure for safety- or mission-critical software.
- Familiarity with software testing methodologies, SIL/HIL workflows and simulation tools.
- Experience with CI/CD and build systems; Bazel experience is a plus.
- Excellent cross-disciplinary communication, attention to detail and ability to lead technical decisions.
- Desirable: knowledge of asynchronous programming, infrastructure-as-code and a background in math/physics.

## Responsibilities

Lead and mentor a team of software engineers in the design, implementation, and integration of mission tooling software for the Nyx orbital vehicle. Drive the technical roadmap, enforce code quality standards, and collaborate across engineering departments to ensure mission success.

## Requirements

Requires strong proficiency in Python 3.x and at least one system programming language, along with experience in software testing and CI/CD methodologies. Candidates should demonstrate leadership capabilities and the ability to solve complex technical problems in a cross-functional environment.

## FAQ

- **Is this Principal Mission Tooling Software Engineer role still open?** It was posted on 2026-08-11. Listings more than 30 days old may no longer be active, so check The Exploration Company's site before applying.
- **Does The Exploration Company offer visa sponsorship?** This listing is marked as offering visa sponsorship. Eligibility rules are set by the employer, so check the details on The Exploration Company's site.
- **Where is this role located?** The listing gives the location as Germany. It is marked on-site.
- **What skills does this role ask for?** The listing names: Python 3.x, Team leadership, Software architecture, CI/CD, Build systems, Simulation tools, Software testing, HIL, SIL, Configuration data management, Autocoding, System programming, Asynchronous programming, Infrastructure as code, Bazel, Physics.

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