Loft Orbital

We build space infrastructure that enables any company, government, or institution to use space. We develop a standardized satellite platform configurable for various missions. This platform uses proprietary hardware and software abstraction layers, called the Hub and Cockpit, built on top of a commodity satellite bus. It offers a ready-to-use, plug-and-play solution. We provide rapid deployment and operation of physical payloads, the ability to deploy and run applications on our fleet of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, and direct tasking of various sensors across our fleet. We manage all aspects of deploying and operating space infrastructure, including integration, testing, launching, and ongoing operations.

To speed up orbital deployment and reduce non-recurring engineering, we keep an inventory of pre-assembled satellite platforms and pre-booked launches. We partner with commercial space startups, aerospace and defense primes, cloud and AI companies, and government agencies globally. Our customers and partners include NASA (MURI mission on YAM5), Microsoft Azure Space (for space development and the NExT program with Ball Aerospace), Honeywell (for the Canadian Space Agency’s Quantum Encryption and Science Satellite mission), EarthDaily (satellite integration and operations), Agenium Space (object detection on satellite), Wyvern (expanding Dragonette constellation capacity), Esper (integrating Four Leaf Clover hyperspectral sensors on YAM satellites starting 2026), Helsing (developing multi-sensor satellite constellation, testing AI for signal intelligence on YAM-6), Little Place Labs (deploying software on YAM-6 for maritime domain awareness), SkyServe (deploying STORM edge computing platform on YAM-6), and Scientific Systems Company, Inc. (AI-enabled edge processing on YAM-3 for SDA). We were also selected as the prime contractor for France’s first space-based radar imaging program and plan to demonstrate new AI compute architecture on YAM-9.

Loft Federal is a FOCI-mitigated entity that serves US government customers for national security space missions and hires US citizens. Loft Orbital was founded in 2017 and works in the Defense and Space Manufacturing industries.

Our mission is to make space simple, offering fast, straightforward, and reliable ways to deploy missions to Low Earth Orbit. Our core values are:

• Wear the Customer’s Shoes: We prioritize customer trust through transparency and responsiveness.
• Have Each Other’s Backs: We foster a collaborative work environment built on professionalism, respect, and kindness.
• A Beginner’s Mind: We seek truth and integrate the best of traditional and new space approaches.
• High Standards: We take pride in our work, understanding the limited margin for error in space.

We have between 201 and 500 employees, working as a distributed, international team across San Francisco, California; Golden, Colorado; and Toulouse, France. Our culture emphasizes high-quality work, combining industry complexity with camaraderie and a sense of humor. We foster a deeply collaborative environment, valuing professionalism, respect, and kindness among team members. We encourage continuous learning, welcome a beginner’s mindset to challenge the status quo, and maintain high standards because of the precision needed in space operations. We tell candidates to apply even if they don’t “check all the boxes,” showing our commitment to scaling up and finding talent in a rapidly growing company. Our work environment is supportive yet challenging, offering opportunities for growth and significant responsibility in technical and leadership roles.

We offer a range of employee benefits, including equity and ways to participate in our success. Employees get up to 35 days of Paid Time Off (vacations & RTT) and flexible working hours, plus 12 paid holidays. Our health and life insurance benefits include 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents. We also pay 100% for Life, AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability insurance. We provide lunch vouchers or daily catered lunches and snacks in the office.

Additional benefits include cross-office travel opportunities between our San Francisco, Golden/Colorado, and Toulouse locations, along with company and team off-sites and other events. Relocation assistance is available if needed. We offer a 401(k) plan, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) with an employer contribution to the HSA. Our team also gets international exposure from our presence in France. Parental leave is fully paid, with 14 weeks for the primary caregiver/birthing parent and 10 weeks for the secondary caregiver/non-birthing parent. Carrot Fertility offers comprehensive fertility healthcare and family-forming benefits with financial support.