--- title: 'Senior Cloud Architect – Platforms Engineering at Xona Space Systems' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-cloud-architect-platforms-engineering-xona-space-systems-burlingame-582tm3wbrgvm' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-09' --- # Senior Cloud Architect – Platforms Engineering at Xona Space Systems - **Company:** Xona Space Systems - **Location:** Burlingame, CA - **Compensation:** $173k–$197k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-08-24 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/xona-space/51b3ec2d-5de8-4b88-a9b6-e1abfa0d1355 ## Job description Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth. With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection. ## Overview We are seeking an experienced Cloud Architect to join our growing Platform Engineering team. In this role, you will be the technical owner of our core cloud infrastructure and network topology on AWS. You will iterate, build, and scale the foundational systems that empower our software engineering teams to deploy applications rapidly, securely, and reliably. While the position is titled Cloud Architect, the scope combines high-level architectural strategy with deep platform ownership, bridging the gap between traditional architecture and hands-on operational excellence (CloudOps). ## Key Responsibilities - Infrastructure Ownership: Own, evolve, and scale our AWS multi-account cloud architecture, ensuring high availability, disaster recovery, and cost optimization. - Network Topology Design: Architect and manage complex enterprise networking topologies (VPC design, Transit Gateways, Direct Connect, VPNs, and routing policies) ensuring secure segmentation and low-latency connectivity. - Platform & Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Drive the standardization and automation of infrastructure provisioning using tools like Terraform and AWS CDK. - Reliability & Observability: Collaborate with Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) to implement robust monitoring, logging, and tracing across all cloud environments using tools like Datadog, Prometheus, or AWS CloudWatch. - Developer Enablement: Act as an internal consultant for product engineering teams, providing self-service infrastructure templates, architectural guidance, and best practices. ## Qualifications & Requirements - Experience: 7+ years of experience in IT, with at least 4+ years specializing in cloud architecture and infrastructure engineering within AWS. - Networking Expertise: Deep hands-on knowledge of AWS networking services (VPC, Transit Gateway, Route 53, Direct Connect) and hybrid cloud connectivity. - Automation Mindset: Extensive experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and some knowledge of CI/CD pipelines (Terraform, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI). - Containerization & Orchestration: Solid understanding of container technologies and orchestration platforms, specifically Amazon ECS and Amazon EKS. - Security Acumen: Demonstrated experience designing secure cloud environments adhering to the Principle of Least Privilege and Zero Trust principles. - FinOps Knowledge: Experience implementing cloud cost-management frameworks, reserved instance/savings plan strategies, and granular resource tagging policies. ## Preferred Qualifications - Advanced Certifications: Additional industry certifications like AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty or Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA). - Software Development Background: Proficiency in at least one modern programming or scripting language (Python, Bash, etc.) for automation and tooling. - Certifications: AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (or equivalent hands-on enterprise experience) For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC). For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. ## About Xona Space Systems ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Xona Space Systems is building Pulsar, a high-integrity positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) constellation in Low Earth Orbit that delivers authenticated, centimeter-accurate services as a resilient alternative to GPS. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series C – $170M raised ~April 2026) - **Headquarters**: Burlingame, California, USA (also offices in Montreal, Canada and London, England) - **Founded**: 2019 - **Founders**: Brian Manning (CEO), Tyler Reid (CTO), Adrien Perkins (VP of Engineering) ## Core Business - **Primary industries**: Aerospace / Satellite Navigation, Defense & Critical Infrastructure, Autonomous Systems - **Target customers**: B2B / B2G – enterprise, government, defense, autonomous robotics, construction, industrial IoT, and any application requiring resilient PNT - **Mission**: “Unlock the potential of tomorrow’s technologies by providing the most robust and accurate navigation and timing services on Earth.” ## Products & Services - **Pulsar Constellation**: A network of 258 small, software-defined satellites in LEO broadcasting secured, authenticated PNT signals. Offers native user accuracy at centimeter level and is designed to upgrade existing GPS devices via a software update. - **Pulsar‑Verified Receivers & Simulators**: Certified hardware and test platforms for integrators. Includes reference designs and simulation tools. - **Time Authentication Service**: A cryptographic layer that validates the origin and integrity of timing signals, providing resilience against spoofing and jamming. ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed (conflicting reports may exist; no official figure available) - **Key Metric**: Total funding $327.53M (CB Insights); latest Series C closed ~April 2026 (amount $170M) - **Notable Investors / Partners**: Not publicly disclosed (funding specifics unknown). Key partners include Murata (MOU for LEO navigation in industrial applications), the Government of Canada (R&D collaboration to strengthen timing resilience), and the National Research Council of Canada. - **Growth Signals**: - Successfully launched Pulsar‑0, the first commercially funded navigation satellite, now in orbit for one year (June 2026). - 11+ patents filed (encrypted navigation signals, wireless locating, etc.). - Active hiring in Burlingame, Montreal, and London; 828 employees on LinkedIn as of mid‑2026. - Collaboration with ISED, NRC, and DRDC to broadcast Canada’s official time signal (UTC(NRC)) from space. ## Competitive Advantages - **First‑mover with a privately funded navigation satellite** – Pulsar‑0 set a precedent for commercial LEO PNT. - **Authenticated signals** – Cryptographic security native to the signal provides spoofing/jamming resistance unmatched by traditional GPS. - **Software‑defined satellites** – Rapid constellation scaling and in‑orbit updates at a fraction of legacy system cost. - **Multi‑national timing broadcast** – Ability to carry multiple official time standards (US, UK, Canada) on a shared infrastructure, creating sovereign resilience for allies. ## Strategic Focus - **Constellation deployment** – Scale from prototype (Pulsar‑0) to a full production fleet of 258 satellites. - **Ecosystem enablement** – Grow partner network of receiver makers, chipset vendors, and integrators (e.g., Murata, government bodies). - **Geographic expansion** – Establish a strong presence in Canada (Montreal) and the UK (London) while deepening relationships with allied governments. - **Defense & critical infrastructure** – Pursue contracts that require autonomous, tamper‑proof PNT for military, aviation, and grid timing. ## Why Work Here - **Impact** – Work on “a generational technology at startup speed”; decisions are pushed to the people closest to the work. Culture of ownership and rapid iteration. - **Compensation** – Competitive salary, equity (ownership culture), 401(k) / Roth 401(k). - **Benefits** – 95% of healthcare premiums covered for US employees (50% for dependents); HSA/FSA options; supportive parental leave (equitable); flexible time off. - **Workplace** – Burlingame office with catered lunches twice a week, snacks, drinks, coffee. Roles also in Montreal and London (hybrid likely per location, but remote‑first not stated). - **Culture** – Engineering‑driven, fast‑shipping, collaborative; team includes leaders from industry and academia. ## Sources 1. [xonaspace.com](https://www.xonaspace.com/) 2. [xonaspace.com/careers](https://www.xonaspace.com/careers) 3. [xonaspace.com/mission](https://www.xonaspace.com/mission) 4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/xonaspace) 5. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/xona-space-systems) ## Other roles at Xona Space Systems - [Technical Writer](https://feeny.ai/job/technical-writer-xona-space-systems-burlingame-f9aj5k2b8g88) — Burlingame, CA - [Développeur(-euse) principal(e) de produits, Fullstack / Senior Product Developer](https://feeny.ai/job/developpeur-euse-principal-e-de-produits-fullstack-senior-product-developer-5ms7v4x25mjs) — Montréal, Canada - [Software Development Engineer in Test](https://feeny.ai/job/software-development-engineer-in-test-xona-space-systems-burlingame-5s17a4hg3e6s) — Burlingame, CA - [Director of Flight Software Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-flight-software-engineering-xona-space-systems-burlingame-8893v6jvsyb9) — Burlingame, CA - [Cloud Security Specialist – Platforms Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/cloud-security-specialist-platforms-engineering-xona-space-systems-burlingame-2cw1wtrhjex7) — Burlingame, CA - [Spécialiste GNSS / GNSS Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/specialiste-gnss-gnss-specialist-xona-space-systems-montreal-6shb1yzhx57k) — Montréal, Canada - [Product Manager (Ecosystem) / Responsable de Produit (écosystème)](https://feeny.ai/job/product-manager-ecosystem-responsable-de-produit-ecosysteme-xona-space-systems-xa2agjby9kae) — Montréal, Canada - [Sr. Manufacturing Engineer - PCBA Validation](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-manufacturing-engineer-pcba-validation-xona-space-systems-burlingame-6qxd9mezckkj) — Burlingame, CA - [Quality Assurance Inspector](https://feeny.ai/job/quality-assurance-inspector-xona-space-systems-burlingame-haa1nr5wk5t1) — Burlingame, CA - [Sr. Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-mechanical-engineer-xona-space-systems-burlingame-pxs5bdaytyzt) — Burlingame, CA