Senior Mission Operations Engineer

Holt Executive

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Mission Operations Engineer to join a growing space operations team supporting complex satellite missions across their full lifecycle.

This is a broad and technically varied role, with responsibilities spanning mission development, operations preparation, launch and early operations, routine spacecraft operations, mission planning, spacecraft control, anomaly resolution and end-of-life activities.

Unlike more traditionally segmented operations positions, this role provides exposure across a wide range of mission operations disciplines. You’ll have the opportunity to influence operational concepts, develop new tools and processes, and help shape how a growing fleet of spacecraft is operated.

The Role
  • Act as an Operations Technical Lead across missions and projects.
  • Perform routine and critical real-time spacecraft operations.
  • Take on a range of operational responsibilities including Mission Manager, Spacecraft Operations Engineer, Mission Planning and Spacecraft Controller.
  • Develop and maintain mission operations procedures, tools, scripts and documentation.
  • Support mission planning, scheduling, on-call operations and coordination with spacecraft, ground systems and flight dynamics teams.
  • Contribute to mission operations concepts and requirements across space and ground segments.
  • Support operations preparation, including operability requirements, FDIR and flight software analysis.
  • Prepare and deliver mission operations training and simulation/rehearsal campaigns.
  • Participate in major mission reviews and identify operational risks during mission development.
  • Monitor spacecraft health and performance and investigate anomalies.
  • Develop innovative operational solutions to enable a small team to efficiently control multiple spacecraft.
  • Provide technical guidance and mentoring to less experienced team members.
The role is predominantly 9-to-5 with hybrid office/home working, although longer days and periods of consecutive onsite working will be required during critical mission phases.

About You

We’re looking for an experienced spacecraft operations professional who can operate confidently across multiple disciplines and remain calm and methodical during high-pressure mission activities.

Essential experience includes:
  • Degree in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline.
  • 5+ years' experience within the satellite/space industry, ideally including real-time spacecraft operations.
  • Experience operating LEO spacecraft across multiple mission phases.
  • Strong knowledge of satellite subsystems, particularly AOCS/GNC and/or On-Board Data Handling.
  • Experience with mission control systems, including procedure development, monitoring and control, mission planning and configuration management.
  • Experience with spacecraft performance monitoring and anomaly investigation/resolution.
  • Strong problem-solving and root-cause analysis capabilities.
  • Excellent attention to detail and the ability to work independently.
  • Ability to remain calm, disciplined and accurate during critical mission operations.
  • Ability to develop and implement innovative spacecraft operations concepts.
  • Eligible to obtain, or currently holding, SC security clearance or higher.

Desirable Experience

Experience with the following would be advantageous:
  • SCOS-2000 or similar mission control systems.
  • Formation flying, rendezvous or close-proximity satellite operations.
  • Spacecraft systems engineering.
  • Flight dynamics and orbital mechanics.
  • Operations preparation and mission planning tools.
  • ECSS standards relating to ground systems and operations.
  • Developing operational concepts for small, highly capable mission control teams.

What’s on Offer?
  • Hybrid working in Oxfordshire.
  • Optional 9-day fortnight working pattern.
  • 25 days' holiday, increasing with service, plus bank holidays.
  • Private healthcare, life insurance and long-term sick pay.
  • Relocation support may be available.
  • Modern engineering and mission operations facilities.
  • Collaborative and internationally diverse working environment.

This is a particularly strong opportunity for a Senior Mission Operations Engineer looking to broaden their responsibilities beyond traditional spacecraft control, with genuine influence over mission operations strategy, processes and execution.

 


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