Mission Operations Engineer II

Astranis; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Company-subsidized healthcare

401(k) retirement planning

On-site catered meals

Job summary

Astranis, a San Francisco-based satellite company, is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer II to work with hardware engineers and build procedures for safe, reliable spacecraft operations. You will contribute to both commercial and US Government programs, collaborating with a talented team to run the operations system and commissioning activities.

You will automate processes, develop tools for the operations team, and lead commanding during launch of the first production satellite.

Qualifications

• 2–6+ years total experience with satellite or spacecraft mission operations.
• 1+ years experience with on-console spacecraft operations.
• Experience scripting in Python or similar language.
• Experience doing telemetry analysis and anomaly investigation.
• Experience designing and executing satellite operations.
• Basic understanding of satellite subsystems (hardware and software).
• Highly motivated, self-starting and able to work autonomously.
• Desire to work in a fast-paced hands-on environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop our satellite operations system and team.
• Create, test, and execute satellite operations procedures (commissioning and nominal operations).
• Investigate anomalies with mission operations and engineering teams.
• Automate manual processes with scripting and tools.
• Serve as user/requirements owner for ground software tools for fleet operations.
• Lead commanding activities during launch and commissioning of the first production satellite.
• Develop tools/processes to maintain high service uptime for customers.

Skills

Mission operations

Python scripting

Telemetry analysis

Anomaly investigation

Satellite operations

Automation

Ground software tools

Launch commanding

Tools

Git

Phabricator

Job description

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe – large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military.

With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization.

Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world’s best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, Blackrock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.

Mission Operations Engineer II

As a Mission Operations Engineer you will be working closely with hardware engineers to figure out how their hardware should be operated, and writing procedures we will use to safely and reliably operate the satellite. You will get a chance to work with some incredibly smart people who have flown things in space before. No prior space experience is needed, you just need to enjoy getting your hands dirty with real hardware, and be okay with tackling ambiguous challenges.

This role will contribute to both commercial and US Government programs.

Role

• Play a large role in the design and development of our satellite operations system and team
• Work with satellite engineers to design, create, test, and execute satellite operations procedures, including commissioning procedures and nominal operations procedures
• Investigate anomalies and work with the mission operations and engineering team to safely resolve them
• Automate manual processes using scripting and software tools
• Work with our ground software team as the user and requirements owner for tools that will help us operate our fleet of satellites
• Lead commanding activities during the launch and commissioning of our first production satellite
• Develop tools and processes to enable the Mission Operations team to maintain a high level of service uptime for our customer

Requirements

• 2-6+ years total experience with satellite or spacecraft mission operations, not including internships.
• 1+ years experience with on-console spacecraft operations.
• Experience scripting in any language - Python preferred
• Experience doing telemetry analysis and anomaly investigation
• Experience designing and executing satellite operations
• Basic understanding of satellite subsystems (hardware and software)
• Highly motivated, self-starting, and able to perform duties autonomously without supervision
• A passion for working in a fast-paced environment and hands-on development and testing
• Don\'t meet them all? Not a problem. Please apply even if you do not meet all these criteria.

Bonus

• Experience building operational software tools and user-friendly UIs
• Experience with software development tools such as Git and Phabricator
• Experience operating GEO satellites

What we offer

All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.

Base pay is just one component of Astranis’s total rewards package. Your compensation also includes a significant equity package via incentive stock options, high-quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance, 401(k) retirement planning, flexible PTO, and free on-site catered meals.

Astranis pay ranges are informed and defined through professional-grade salary surveys and compensation data sources. The actual base salary offered to a successful candidate will additionally be influenced by a variety of factors including experience, credentials & certifications, educational attainment, skill level requirements, and the level and scope of the position.

$130,000 - $170,000 USD

U.S. Citizenship, Lawful Permanent Residency, or Refugee/Asylee Status Required

(To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States, or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))

Our mission and products are built for everyone, regardless of gender, race, creed, or background. We believe in a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we invite all people to join our team and bring their unique perspectives to make us stronger.