Senior Payload Data Operator

FADA; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

FADA is seeking a Senior Payload Data Processing Engineer to design, develop, and operate processing chains that transform raw satellite payload data into calibrated, analysis-ready products. The role covers ingestion through Level-2 products and requires hands-on EO and SAR expertise.

You will lead pipelines, collaborate with satellite operations, and guide junior engineers, while driving continual improvement and Cal/Val activities across multiple platforms and data sources.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in satellite payload data processing.
• Hands-on experience processing optical EO data, including calibration and product generation.
• Hands-on experience processing SAR data, including Level-1 products.
• Experience developing, validating, commissioning, and operating payload data processing systems.

Responsibilities

• Define EO product specifications with end users, mission engineers, and stakeholders.
• Translate user and mission requirements into processing specifications, product formats, and metadata standards.
• Act as the technical interface between payload processing, satellite operations, and system engineering teams.
• Design, develop, and maintain processing pipelines from raw data ingestion through Level-0, Level-1 and Level-2 products.
• Collaborate with satellite operations teams to improve product quality throughout the acquisition-to-delivery cycle.
• Lead investigations into data chain anomalies and drive resolution across payload, downlink, ingestion, and processing stages.

Skills

Payload processing

Optical EO data

SAR data processing

Pipeline development

Education

Electrical Engineering

Remote Sensing

Geomatics

Aerospace Engineering

Tools

GeoTIFF

STAC

OGC services

Job description

Job Description:

External Job Description

FADA is seeking a Senior Payload Data Processing Engineer to design, develop, and operate processing chains that transform raw satellite payload data into calibrated, analysis-ready products. The role covers the full downstream processing chain, from Level-0 ingestion through Level-1 and Level-2 products. The successful candidate will have hands-on experience with both Electro-Optical (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payloads and will work closely with satellite operations teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Define EO product specifications with end users, mission engineers, and stakeholders to meet mission objectives.
• Translate user and mission requirements into processing specifications, product formats, and metadata standards.
• Act as the technical interface between payload processing, satellite operations, and system engineering teams.
• Design, develop, and maintain processing pipelines from raw data ingestion through Level-0, Level-1 and Level-2 products.
• Implement optical image processing algorithms, including registration, georeferencing, orthorectification, radiometric and atmospheric correction, cloud masking, classification, and derived products.
• Integrate workflows into scalable, automated processing systems with defined throughput and latency targets.
• Support multi-payload and multi-sensor operations across different platforms and data sources.
• Continuously improve processing chains through the evaluation of new algorithms, tools, and techniques.
• Contribute to payload characterization, calibration, and validation (Cal/Val) activities.
• Collaborate with satellite operations teams to improve product quality throughout the acquisition-to-delivery cycle.
• Lead investigations into data chain anomalies and drive issues to resolution across payload, downlink, ingestion, and processing stages.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and represent FADA in engagements with suppliers, vendors, and partners.

Education & Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Remote Sensing, Geomatics, Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.

Must Have Skills

• 5-8 years of experience in satellite payload data processing, with responsibility for processing chains, algorithms, or product lines.
• Hands-on experience processing optical EO data, including calibration, correction, and product generation.
• Hands-on experience processing SAR data, including focusing raw data into Level-1 image products.
• Experience developing, validating, commissioning, and operating payload data processing systems.

Desired Skills

• Strong knowledge of remote sensing principles and optical and radar image processing.
• Familiarity with geospatial data structures, coordinate systems, projections, and standards such as GeoTIFF, STAC, and OGC services.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent technical communication, and the ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary operational environments

#FADA

Requirements