Lodestar

Software Engineer I: Payload Engineer

Lodestar · Los Angeles, US

Posted today · $99,000 - $133,000

or apply directly on Lodestar's site. We never take the application ourselves.

Is this posting real?

This role has been open
0 days
Lodestar's roles stay open a median of 42 days
Reposted
No
Salary listed
Yes
60% of Lodestar's roles list one
Ghost-job risk at Lodestar
moderate
2 stale, 2 reposted of 10 open
Hiring momentum
12 roles opened in the last 90 days
↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
Last confirmed on the employer's board
2026-09-26

Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from Lodestar's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for Lodestar.

About this role

As a Payload Engineer I at Lodestar, you will be responsible for the end-to-end ownership of the payload engineering model for the CORONA program. Your daily tasks will include designing, building, integrating, and testing various subsystems, as well as preparing documentation and conducting environmental qualifications. This role emphasizes hands-on experience and offers the opportunity to work closely with senior engineers in a collaborative environment.

Our read on this posting4.4out of 5
benefits
3/5
freshness
5/5
career value
4/5
role clarity
5/5
pay transparency
5/5

Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of Lodestar as an employer.

What you need

  • Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical or Electronic Engineering, Physics, Optics or Photonics, Robotics, Computer Science, or demonstrated equivalent knowledge
  • 0–2 years of professional experience
  • Hands-on evidence of building something real and making it work
  • Working proficiency in Python

Nice to have

  • Space exposure in any form
  • Optics and photonics bench work
  • Computer vision
  • Closed-loop pointing and control
  • Environmental test and integration

What you get

  • Pay Range for this role: $99,000 - $133,000 / year
  • Meaningful equity incentives as part of our employee option pool
  • Flexible PTO with generous paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
  • Comprehensive medical, dental & vision coverage
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match

Worth weighing

  • Early-career role with a broad scope may require quick learning and adaptability
  • Hands-on building experience is prioritized over academic grades
  • No specific mention of remote work options or work-life balance
  • ITAR compliance means only U.S. citizens or eligible individuals can apply

Summarised from Lodestar's posting. Read the full original.

Listed by Lodestar on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-09-26. PitchMeAI is not the employer.

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