Mission Operations Development Lead - Gilbert

Northrop Grumman; Gilbert (AZ); On-site; USD 123,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Total Rewards

Health Insurance

Career Growth Opportunities

On-site Facilities

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a mission operations specialist to provide support across LEOPS, NOMOPS, payload operations, and End-of-Life phases for satellite programs. You will develop on-orbit procedures, write automation scripts, and maintain operator handbooks and training materials.

You will lead on-orbit rehearsals and tests, perform script and procedure development, coordinate with systems engineers, and support launch and early operations with on-console presence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related discipline or equivalent.
• 8+ years of relevant experience; 6 years with a Master’s; 4 years with a PhD.
• Active TS/SCI clearance at time of application with willingness to take a polygraph.
• Experience with on-orbit mission operations and resolving satellite/ground system anomalies.
• Experience with at least one spacecraft subsystem (e.g., ADCS/GNC, comms, power).
• Experience writing technical documents (procedures, handbooks, test plans).
• Excellent verbal and written communication for milestone reviews.
• Experience with scripting for automation (Python/Perl).

Responsibilities

• Provide mission operations support to satellite programs across LEOPS, NOMOPS, payload operations, and EOL phases.
• Lead on-orbit procedure and script development and automation; test on-orbit products and resolve discrepancies.
• Develop and maintain Signatures, Limits, and Constraints documentation.
• Create and maintain on-orbit handbooks and operator references for LEOPS/NOMOPS payload events.
• Lead training and system familiarization for operations teams.
• Lead rehearsals for LEOPS events, MRTs, MRs, DITL, and major payload events.
• Provide on-console LEOPS support during launch and early orbit operations.
• Support passivation and EOL planning and execution.
• Develop and test command procedures, telemetry pages, and related ops products.
• Develop on-orbit products including procedures and executable scripts.
• Collaborate with systems engineers on ops concepts for checkout and routine ops.
• Participate in anomaly resolution and provide status reporting.

Skills

On-orbit operations

Automation scripting

Technical communication

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or related discipline

Tools

Python

Perl

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: SCI

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

The Successful Candidate Will Be Expected To

• Provide mission operations support to Northrop Grumman satellite programs across LEOPS, NOMOPS, payload operations, and End-of-Life phases.
• Lead on-orbit procedure and script development and automation
  • Development and verification of on-orbit command procedures and automate scripts based on operational concepts and vendor documentation.
  • Testing on-orbit operational products using simulators and resolving discrepancies.
• Develop and maintain Signatures, Limits, and Constraints documentation
• Author and maintain on-orbit handbooks and operator reference guides for Launch & Early Operations (LEOPS), transition to NOMOPS, routine NOMOPS, and payload event operations.
• Develop and deliver system familiarization and operator training
• Lead rehearsal activities for key on-orbit events, Mission Readiness Tests (MRTs), Mission Rehearsals (MRs), Day-In-The-Life (DITL), LEOPS events, transition to NOMOPS, and major payload events.
• Execute Launch and Early Operations (LEOPS) On-console support during launch, early orbit, and transfer operations.
• Provide On-Orbit Test planning and execution support to the Satellite Control Authority (SCA) OOT procedure development, test timeline definition, data review, and documentation of results and recommendations.
• Support passivation and End of Life (EOL) planning and execution
• Lead development and test of command procedures, telemetry pages, and other mission operations products derived from vendor and system engineering documentation.
• Develop on orbit products including operation procedures and executable on orbit scripts.
• Make modifications to existing operations procedures and products to incorporate lessons learned from in-flight performance, and develop new procedures as required.
• Support system development activities such as requirements management, operations concept development, architecture input, integration and test, and formal program milestones.
• Work closely with systems engineers to develop operational documentation and concepts for on-orbit checkout, commissioning, and routine operations.
• Participate in on-orbit anomaly resolution efforts
• Provide status reporting through both functional and program reporting channels.
• Support multiple programs within the same product line with consistent application of Integrated/Developmental Operations processes and standards.
• Support internal and external customer meetings through proficient verbal and written communication (MS PowerPoint, MS Word, MS Excel).
• Role may require shift work and travel (~20% of the time) for simulations, rehearsals, launch campaigns, and on-site operations support.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or related discipline and 8 years of relevant experience; 6 years with a Master’s; 4 years with a PhD.
• Requires an active Top-Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance at time of application with willingness to take a polygraph.
• Prior experience conducting on-orbit mission operations and/or resolving satellite/ground system anomalies.
• Experience with at least one spacecraft subsystem (e.g., ADCS/GNC, command and data handling, communications, power, thermal, flight software, orbital planning and dynamics, etc.).
• Systems engineering experience or significant coursework in systems engineering or system design.
• Experience writing technical documents for internal or external customers (e.g., procedures, handbooks, test plans, or operations documentation).
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to make persuasive presentations to external customers at milestone reviews.
• Experience with scripting for automation (e.g., Perl, Python, or equivalent) applied to mission operations products and workflows.
• Experience in on orbit script and procedure development
• EVMS experience reporting to project management

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional mission operations activities (rehearsals, LEOPS, OOT, or anomaly resolution).
• Experience with mission operations development of on orbit handbooks, operational procedure and script development
• Support of readiness activities to include Mission Readiness Tests (MRTs), Mission Rehearsals (MRs), Day-In-The-Life (DITL), and daily operations testing.
• On console experience during a launch and early operations campaign
• Familiarity with training and certification programs for space system operations
• Work experience with external System Integrator
• Knowledge of STOL programing language

Working at Northrop Grumman is more than just a paycheck. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive at work and in life. For more information on our Total Rewards package, please visit our Total Rewards site.

Northrop Grumman Total Rewards

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Primary Level Salary Range: $122,800.00 - $184,200.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.