Build and Release Engineer (DevOps)
Own the build system and CI pipelines at Northwood Space, enhancing developer productivity in a cutting-edge space technology environment.
Posted by employer 2 weeks ago
First seen on Joblaze 16 hours ago
Last verified on the company career page 16 hours ago
Skills & Technologies
What you'll build
- Own the build system
- Design and maintain reusable GitLab CI templates
- Build reproducible developer environments
- Implement release automation
- Instrument the build and CI system
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field
- 3+ years of experience in build engineering, DevOps, CI/CD
- Hands-on experience owning CI pipelines
- Proficiency in Python and shell scripting
- Solid understanding of containers, Linux, and Git workflows
Nice to have
- Production experience with Nix, OCI
- Experience with cross-compilation and embedded or FPGA toolchains
- Familiarity with software supply chain security tooling
- Exposure to Kubernetes, ArgoCD
- Experience in a regulated environment
Practical constraints
- Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
Requirements
- Experience
- 3+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Visa
- Sponsorship available
Not disclosed in this posting: compensation, work arrangement.
Joblaze summary
In this role, the Build and Release Engineer at Northwood Space is responsible for managing the build system and CI pipelines that support various engineering teams, ensuring efficient software delivery to both cloud and ground stations. Key skills include proficiency in Python, shell scripting, and experience with CI tools like GitLab CI, alongside a solid understanding of containers and Linux environments. This position is ideal for someone with over three years of experience in DevOps or platform engineering, particularly in complex, multi-team settings. The role is part of the Platform team, which collaborates across disciplines to enhance developer productivity.
Joblaze insights
- Listed today — first seen on Joblaze November 8, 2026. Last confirmed on Northwood Space's careers page November 8, 2026.
- This exact title is also open at 1 other location at Northwood Space: Torrance, CA.
- Kubernetes appears in 63% of 138 comparable mid devops/sre roles in United States; Nix appears in 0.7% of 138 comparable mid devops/sre roles in United States.
Quick facts
- How much experience is required?
- At least 3 years of relevant experience for this Build and Release Engineer (DevOps) role.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: Buildkite, C/C++, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Kubernetes, Linux.
- Does Northwood Space sponsor work visas for this role?
- Yes — the posting indicates visa sponsorship is available for the right candidate.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Northwood Space targets mid-level candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Build and Release Engineer (DevOps) role at Northwood Space.
From the original posting
Role
Northwood's engineers ship software to the cloud and to ground stations in the field. We're looking for a Developer Experience Engineer to own the build system, CI pipelines, test harness integrations, and developer environments that FPGA, embedded, DSP, cloud, and ground teams use every day. You will build the paved paths those teams adopt for their own targets, measure how fast and reliably they get from commit to release, and strive to make that number better. This role sits within the Platform team and works with every engineering discipline at Northwood.
Responsibilities
Own the build system: reproducibility, caching, build times, and cross-platform targets spanning cloud services, embedded firmware, and FPGA gateware.
Design and maintain reusable GitLab CI templates and pipeline components, with fast early checks ahead of expensive builds and tests, and drive down flakiness and cycle time with data.
Build reproducible developer environments so new engineers are productive on day one.
Implement release automation and promotion mechanics from development through staging to production, including artifact signing and supply chain checks.
Instrument the build and CI system, publish developer productivity metrics, and use them to prioritize the tooling roadmap.
Support engineers on build and pipeline issues and turn recurring problems into permanent fixes.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
3+ years of experience in build engineering, DevOps, CI/CD, developer productivity, or platform engineering.
Hands-on experience owning CI pipelines (GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Buildkite, or similar) for a multi-team codebase.
Proficiency in Python and shell scripting; ability to read and build Rust or C/C++ projects.
Solid understanding of containers, Linux, and Git workflows.
Demonstrated ability to diagnose and fix slow or unreliable builds, with specific examples.
Preferred Qualifications
Production experience with Nix, OCI, and hermetic build systems.
Experience with cross-compilation and embedded or FPGA toolchains.
Experience with remote build caching and distributed builds.
Familiarity with software supply chain security tooling, SAST, DAST, and SBOMs.
Exposure to Kubernetes, ArgoCD, or GitOps deployment patterns.
Experience in a regulated environment (CMMC, NIST 800-171, or similar) where build provenance matters.
Additional Information:
Standard company text repeated across Northwood Space's postings is omitted here.