Imaging Operations Specialist

Hydrosat Inc.; Carlsbad (CA); Remote; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking an experienced individual to support satellite imaging missions. This role involves overseeing the tasking of on-orbit satellites, developing scripts for efficient operations, and collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams. The mission is to leverage thermal imagery from space to enhance agricultural water productivity and combat climate change. Join a forward-thinking organization that values sustainability and resilience, offering a remote or on-site position in Carlsbad, CA. If you have a passion for space technology and enjoy working in a dynamic environment, this opportunity is for you.

Benefits

Employee Options

Health Insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental

Flexible Time Off

Maternity, Paternity & Parental Leave

401K Matching

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in tasking for remote sensing systems or similar applications.
• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee scheduling and tasking of on-orbit satellites for timely imaging.
• Develop scripts for satellite operations and tasking requests.
• Investigate and resolve on-orbit anomalies of imaging payloads.

Skills

Remote Sensing Systems Tasking

Python Scripting

API Interface

Orbital Mechanics Software

Multi-disciplinary Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering

Related Field Experience

Tools

STK

FreeFlyer

Job description

Hydrosat is a deep-tech company leveraging the unique capabilities of thermal imagery from space to measure water stress in agriculture and mitigate the effects of climate change. Our mission is to improve water productivity, enhance food security, protect public safety, and preserve the environment. By transforming advanced data into actionable insights, we empower our customers to make informed decisions that drive sustainability and resilience.

We are seeking an experienced individual who will support the imaging missions performed by the on-orbit satellites operated by Hydrosat. Working with the Hydrosat products team and mission operations team, this role involves overseeing the scheduling and tasking of the on-orbit satellites to ensure timely and accurate imaging is performed. This role will be responsible for overseeing imaging operations of the Hydrosat satellites as well as developing scripts to interface with the satellite operations software related to instrument tasking, image scheduling, and calibration activities. This role will also require the individual to develop a working knowledge of the satellite data pipeline in order to task the satellites appropriately and efficiently.

Position is remote or located in Carlsbad, CA

Duties and Responsibilities

• Review and understand the current and upcoming satellite mission operations including understanding the operations API for tasking the on-orbit assets
• Receive tasking requests from the products team and task the satellites in a timely fashion
• Develop scripts to effectively and efficiently task the satellites including forecast tasking to cover near future (~2 weeks) activities
• Work closely with the operations team to understand full satellite operations that impact imaging including calibration, among other satellite states and modes
• Ensure tasking is achievable and advise if requests cannot be met in the requisite timeline
• Develop test methodology to support validation of new scripts in the software integration lab prior to use with on-orbit assets
• Work with the engineering design team to advise on features and capabilities for the next-gen payloads including requirements development
• Investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve on-orbit anomalies of the imaging payloads
• Support configuration changes and software updates of the on-orbit payloads
• Prepare and present periodic reports and metrics relating to imaging operations and prepare other documentation as required
• Prepare stable and releasable scripts and support configuration management of released scripts

Minimum Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in tasking for remote sensing systems or similar applications
• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related field. Experience can be substituted for degree
• Experience working with operations of space-based imaging assets preferred
• Experience with scripting using Python or similar systems to interface with APIs
• Experience with orbital mechanics software (STK, FreeFlyer, etc.) preferred
• Demonstrated experience working in multi-disciplinary teams
• Ability to work with geographically diverse team including fully remote individuals

Benefits

• Employee options
• Health insurance: Medical, Vision, Dental
• Flexible time off
• Maternity, Paternity & Parental Leave
• 401K Matching

Hydrosat provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.