Spacecraft Operations Engineer

SURREY SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED; Guildford; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

32 days holiday plus bank holidays

Pension scheme with life assurance

Private medical & travel insurance

Annual bonus scheme

Share incentive plan

Job summary

SURREY SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY LIMITED in Guildford is looking for a Spacecraft Operations Engineer to lead and manage operations for various missions. The successful candidate will work closely with engineering teams to shape mission concepts and directly support spacecraft operations while adhering to best practices.

We offer hybrid working opportunities and a supportive environment to foster your professional growth, including a competitive benefits package with 32 days of holiday, medical insurance, and pension schemes.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in Spacecraft Operations or Space Systems Engineering.
• Good understanding of space and ground segment systems.
• Aptitude to work autonomously and prioritize workload.

Responsibilities

• Manage spacecraft operations work packages for new missions.
• Identify and communicate spacecraft operations requirements.
• Support anomaly investigations and operational procedures.

Skills

Team working skills

Documentation and communication skills

Organizational skills

Understanding of orbital mechanics

Problem-solving skills

Education

Degree in Space Engineering or similar

Tools

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

RF communications systems knowledge

Job description

Overview

SSTL has a heritage that spans over 40 years and prides itself in continual innovation and improvement of space technologies, products, and services, as well as in delivering space missions for a broad array of applications. From the earliest study activities to subsystem manufacturing, to assembly and test, to in‑orbit operations, the entire spacecraft lifecycle is managed from SSTL’s Guildford, Surrey headquarters. The role is an exciting opportunity to join the Spacecraft Operations team with responsibility to lead space missions from LEO to GEO and beyond.

Key Tasks

• Managing spacecraft operations work packages for new missions.
• Working with the System Engineer to understand and help shape CONOPS for future missions.
• Identification and communication of spacecraft operations requirements and constraints for these missions.
• Supporting internal and external milestone reviews for projects.
• Supporting ground‑based spacecraft testing.
• Producing spacecraft operations handbooks.
• Defining, documenting, and testing operational procedures.
• Defining, documenting, and testing spacecraft commissioning procedures.
• Planning and managing spacecraft commissioning campaigns.
• Customer Engineer support and training.
• Supporting operation of existing SSTL on‑orbit assets: routine monitoring of, and interaction with, SSTL spacecraft.
• Supporting anomaly investigation activities.
• Supporting Mission Services in responding to and coordinating customer requests for operations support.
• Analyzing historical trend data for spacecraft health monitoring.
• Providing support to operations out‑of‑hours on‑call activities once sufficient experience is gained.
• Supporting the Spacecraft Operations Centre infrastructure.
• Cooperating with Spacecraft Operation Infrastructure & Ground Engineers in routine maintenance of SSTL ground assets.
• Working with the Spacecraft Operations Team, the Ground Software Team, and the Ground Segments Team to ensure that the Spacecraft Operations Centre and associated equipment is fully operational.

Previous Experience

• Previous experience in Spacecraft Operations or Space Systems Engineering would be advantageous.

Qualifications, Knowledge & Skills

• Degree in Space Engineering, or similar.
• Good understanding of space and ground segment systems.
• Good understanding of orbital mechanics.
• Understanding of RF communications systems.
• Good team working skills, together with the ability to interface with others at all levels.
• Excellent written documentation and communication skills.
• Attention to detail essential.
• Good organisational skills and able to prioritise own workload.
• Able to work autonomously and use own initiative to progress tasks.
• Proven ability to handle pressure and work to tight deadlines when times are busy.
• Decision‑making and creative problem‑solving skills.
• Flexible and must be able to work out of hours on occasion.
• Foreign travel for a number of weeks will be required during commissioning phases and other customer support activities.
• Competence with MS Windows and its components (e.g., registry, networking).
• Good MS Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint particularly).
• Ability to demonstrate company mindsets and behaviours: accountability, drive & delivery, effective communication, self‑management, teamwork.

Location

The role is based in our Head Office in Guildford but we fully support hybrid working and a range of flexible working options.

Benefits

• 32 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Pension scheme with life assurance.
• Private medical & international travel insurance.
• Annual bonus scheme.
• Share incentive plan.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental pay for new parents.
• High Street discount scheme and many more.

Visa Support

SSTL supports applications requiring a UK Skilled Worker Visa and sponsorship is available for this role. Relocation assistance also available.

Compliance & Integrity

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief. Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. We will never ask for any monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process.