Senior Space Mission Operations & Prep Engineer

Holt Executive; Oxford; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Life insurance

Relocation support

Visa sponsorship considered

25 days annual leave + holidays

Optional 9-day fortnight

Job summary

Holt Executive is seeking a Senior Mission Operations Preparation Engineer to help design, prepare, and execute spacecraft missions. You will translate requirements into operational concepts, work with software, systems, AIT, and flight operations teams, and contribute to mission readiness through documentation, testing, and tooling.

The role offers a flexible hybrid working environment in the space sector, with opportunities to influence mission outcomes and work across engineering disciplines.

Qualifications

• A degree in Engineering, Physics, or another relevant technical discipline.
• Strong experience within the satellite or space industry, ideally across spacecraft operations, mission preparation, or systems engineering.
• Understanding of spacecraft operational concepts and the complete mission lifecycle.
• Experience working with space standards and engineering processes.
• Familiarity with mission control environments and spacecraft operations tools.
• Experience creating, reviewing, and validating spacecraft procedures.
• Exposure to spacecraft testing, integration, and verification activities.
• Scripting experience using languages such as Python, TCL, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational engineering activities for spacecraft missions during development and preparation phases.
• Translate mission and spacecraft requirements into practical operational concepts and solutions.
• Work closely with engineering teams to ensure spacecraft designs are operable and support successful mission delivery.
• Develop and maintain operational documentation, procedures, and supporting materials.
• Support spacecraft simulator activities, mission databases, and operational tooling.
• Contribute to system‑level testing, validation campaigns, and mission readiness activities.
• Help define and improve processes, tools, and approaches used to support spacecraft operations.
• Collaborate with flight operations teams during mission preparation and execution phases.
• Provide technical support during spacecraft operations, including anomaly investigations where required.

Skills

Python

TCL

Space industry experience

Operational concepts

Education

Engineering degree

Physics degree

Tools

Mission control tools

Spacecraft procedures tools

Job description

Holt Executive is seeking a Senior Mission Operations Preparation Engineer to help design, prepare, and execute spacecraft missions. You will translate requirements into operational concepts, work with software, systems, AIT, and flight operations teams, and contribute to mission readiness through documentation, testing, and tooling.

The role offers a flexible hybrid working environment in the space sector, with opportunities to influence mission outcomes and work across engineering disciplines.