Senior Operations Specialist (Solar Stratospheric Aircraft Mission Planning)

ICEYE; Valencia; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

ICEYE in Valencia, Spain seeks a Senior Operations Specialist (HAPS Mission Planning) to shape flight operations for solar-powered aircraft. You will craft the weather picture, select optimal launch windows, and maintain a live mission plan while conditions evolve.

The role spans flight tests, ground control support, data-driven improvements, and developing scalable operations procedures. You will collaborate with engineers and crew to translate weather and energy constraints into safe,

Qualifications

• 5+ years in UAS or aircraft testing and operations.
• Strong meteorology knowledge and interpretation of forecast models.
• Experience in flight/mission planning under weather and airspace constraints.
• Understanding of aircraft performance and weather impact on safety.
• Clear communication and teamwork in flight crews.
• Programming or scripting in Python or C/C++ is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain the operational meteorological picture before and during flight.
• Identify launch, flight and recovery windows and communicate them to crew.
• Develop and maintain the mission plan integrating weather, airspace, and energy constraints.
• Assess ground impact and ensure trajectory stays within permitted areas.
• Support ground control station operations and flight test campaigns.
• Contribute to procedures, tools and training for scalable operations.
• Coordinate safety assessments and regulatory communications.

Skills

UAS operations

Meteorology knowledge

Flight/mission planning

Weather forecast interpretation

Crew communication

Programming/scripting (Python/C)

B license driving

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's in Aeronautics/Aerospace

Tools

QGroundControl

GIS tools

Telemetry dashboards

Job description

ROLE HIGHLIGHTS

• Role: Senior Operations Specialist (Solar Stratospheric Aircraft Mission Planning)
• Department: HAPS
• Location: Valencia, Spain
• Working type: On site, with limited remote working
• Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required)

THE MISSION OF THE SENIOR OPERATIONS SPECIALIST (HAPS MISSION PLANNING)

As Senior Operations Specialist (HAPS Mission Planning), you will shape where, when and how ICEYE's stratospheric, solar-powered electric aircraft flies. You will build and maintain the operational weather picture before and during each flight, identify the right windows to launch, fly and recover, and turn weather, airspace, aircraft performance and energy constraints into a safe and achievable mission plan that you keep up to date as conditions evolve.

The role is deliberately broad. Beyond mission planning, you will contribute across the Operations team: preparing and executing flight test campaigns, supporting ground control station operations, assessing flight results and feeding them back into the aircraft's development, and helping build the procedures and tools of an operations capability that will scale as the program grows.

WHO ARE WE?

ICEYE delivers space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to governments and allied nations. This includes sovereign and turnkey ISR missions leveraging ICEYE's world-leading synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite technology, as well as access to data from the world's largest SAR satellite constellation. These capabilities enable partners to detect and respond to critical changes anywhere on Earth with unprecedented speed and accuracy, day or night and in any weather, supported by ultra high-resolution imagery and high-frequency revisits.

As a trusted partner for defense, intelligence, security, and maritime domain awareness, ICEYE's near real-time data creates a tactical advantage for mission-critical operations. ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, Japan, the UAE, Greece, Germany, and the US. The company has more than 900 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation.

Key Responsibilities

Flight operations

• Build and maintain the operational meteorological picture before and during the flight, using the available tools (forecast models, radiosondes, lidar and aircraft data), drift planning, and identify weather and terrain-related hazards relevant to the flight profile.
• Identify suitable launch, flight and recovery windows and communicate them to the flight crew.
• Develop and maintain the mission plan (route, altitude, speed profile and timing), customer mission goals, integrating weather, airspace, aircraft performance, aircraft health and energy constraints.
• Continuously assess predicted cut-down and debris impact zones to keep the planned trajectory within the permitted ground impact area.
• Maintain readiness for degraded operations for a return-to-home mission profile in case re-planning of a return is necessary or in case of the plane entering a degraded operational mode due to a mechanical or electrical servicing need.
• Monitor aircraft progress against the plan, update it when required, and coordinate mission planning and meteorological decisions with the flight crew and engineering teams.

Wider operations support

• Contribute to the planning, preparation and execution of flight test campaigns, including site preparation, pre-flight checks, launch and recovery activities.
• Take on other crew positions or ground control station duties as operational needs require, building versatility across the Operations team.
• Analyse flight data after each flight, report results and translate findings into improvements for the aircraft, its systems and operating procedures.
• Develop and maintain operational procedures, checklists, emergency procedures and operations documentation.
• Develop and improve monitoring, analysis and planning tools used by the flight crew, such as telemetry dashboards and energy or thermal estimation tools.
• Support aircraft integration, ground testing and simulation activities, and contribute to the training and qualification of crew members.
• Support safety and risk assessments for operations and, when needed, coordination with aviation authorities and external partners.

Requirements

Must have skills

• 5+ years of relevant experience in UAS or aircraft testing and operations.
• Good knowledge of meteorology (wind profiles, convection, turbulence, icing, thermal activity, etc.) and the ability to interpret forecast models, synoptic charts and upper-air data.
• Experience in flight or mission planning, including route, altitude and timing under weather and airspace constraints.
• Understanding of aircraft performance and of how weather affects flight safety and endurance.
• Clear communication and the ability to work as part of a flight crew, including during long-endurance operations.
• Programming or scripting skills for data analysis and tooling (e.g. Python; C/C++) a plus.
• Ability to drive large vehicles or convoys (within limits of B license).
• Good command of the English language, both oral and written.

Nice To Have Skills

• Aviation meteorology qualification, or experience as a forecaster or weather briefer for flight operations.
• Hands-on experience with radiosonde launches, lidar or other atmospheric measurement systems.
• Experience with airspace management and coordination with ATC.
• Experience with trajectory, cut-down or debris impact modelling.
• Experience with solar-powered, electric or long-endurance aircraft, or with high-altitude platforms and balloons.
• Experience with safety analysis in the SORA framework.
• Familiarity with GIS tools, autopilot mission planning and ground software like QGroundControl.
• EASA-valid remote pilot license up to specific category standard scenarios.
• Proactive can-do attitude and love for aerospace are expected.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• Talent Acquisition Interview
• Hiring Manager Interview
• Technical Interview (onsite or virtual), including a Technical Challenge
• Hiring Team Interview
• Offer Decision

WORKING AT ICEYE

At ICEYE, you'll join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. Your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority, with continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture where collaboration is how we win.

How We Work (our Values)

Make the impossible possible: We set ambitious goals and stay calm under pressure. We bring grit, optimism, and ownership when things get hard, and we keep moving until we find a way.

• Be curious: Go deep, ask questions, listen carefully, and think critically. Understand the "why" behind decisions.
• See the big picture: Stay close to what's happening across the company so you can make better decisions. Consider how your work affects others.
• Drive effective teamwork: Create psychological safety, invite different perspectives, and build inclusive teams. There are no bad questions.
• Act as one team: We win together. We match tasks to the right owner and stay agile as priorities shift.
• Have fun: What we do matters, and it should be enjoyable. Celebrate progress, take pride in results, and share the wins.

Benefits

Our benefits are designed to support your health and wellbeing, at work and beyond. We keep improving them based on employee feedback, and offerings vary by location. Talent Acquisition will confirm what applies for this role and location during the process.

OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table.

We're committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us; we'll do our best to help.