Mission Operations Engineer V - Satellite Operator

Arcfield; Louisville (CO); On-site; USD 126,000 - 218,000; Full time

Job summary

Arcfield's Orion Space Solutions in Louisville, CO, seeks a seasoned Senior Satellite Operator to oversee 24/7 real-time satellite operations, anomaly response, and off-hours support.

You will lead TT&C monitoring, mission planning, data analysis, and cross-team collaboration with ground stations and engineering staff, while mentoring junior operators and maintaining documentation and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• BS degree in a related technical field with 10-12 years of related experience or MS with 8-10 years of experience or a PhD with 5-7 years of experience
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience working with satellite systems, ground segment operations, or related projects.
• Deep understanding of satellite telemetry, tracking, and command systems (TT&C).
• Strong knowledge of orbital mechanics, spacecraft systems, and satellite communication networks.
• Proven expertise in managing real-time monitoring and anomaly troubleshooting for spacecraft and ground station operations.
• Excellent leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities in critical situations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine and complex monitoring, tracking, and control of satellite telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) systems.
• Execute and supervise advanced mission plans for satellite maneuvers, orbit control activities, payload operations, and anomaly resolution in close coordination with program leadership and engineering staff.
• Deploy established protocols for identifying, troubleshooting, and mitigating satellite anomalies in real time.
• Analyze large-scale satellite telemetry datasets to assess performance trends and identify potential issues.
• Prepare and refine detailed reports on satellite health and mission progress for dissemination to stakeholders and customers.
• Act as a technical liaison, coordinating activities between internal teams, external ground stations, contractors, and mission operation centers.
• Provide guidance and mentorship for junior satellite operators during training or ongoing operations.
• Ensure meticulous record-keeping of operational activities and update technical documentation as needed.
• Maintain compliance with proprietary protocols, industry guidelines, and regulatory requirements (e.g., FCC, ITU, NOAA).

Skills

TT&C expertise

real-time monitoring

anomaly troubleshooting

leadership

problem solving

Education

B.S. in a related technical field

M.S. in a related field

Ph.D. (preferred)

Tools

Grafana

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Responsibilities

Summary:

Orion Space Solutions, an Arcfield company, is seeking a seasoned and highly skilled Senior Satellite Operator to join our Louisville, Colorado-based team, with a focus on supporting satellite operations outside of standard business hours. This senior-level role requires extensive experience in satellite operations, as well as advanced troubleshooting and decision-making skills to ensure mission success during nighttime, weekend, or holiday shifts. The successful candidate will play a critical role in leading real-time operations, anomaly response, and coordination during off-hours.

Key Responsibilities:

Advanced Satellite Operations:

• Conduct routine and complex monitoring, tracking, and control of satellite telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) systems.
• Execute and supervise advanced mission plans for satellite maneuvers, orbit control activities, payload operations, and anomaly resolution in close coordination with program leadership and engineering staff.
• Deploy established protocols for identifying, troubleshooting, and mitigating satellite anomalies in real time.

Expert Data Analysis & Reporting:

• Analyze large-scale satellite telemetry datasets to assess performance trends and identify potential issues.
• Prepare and refine detailed reports on satellite health and mission progress for dissemination to stakeholders and customers.

Leading Collaboration:

• Act as a technical liaison, coordinating activities between internal teams, external ground stations, contractors, and mission operation centers.
• Provide guidance and mentorship for junior satellite operators during training or ongoing operations.

Compliance & Documentation:

• Ensure meticulous record-keeping of operational activities and update technical documentation as needed.
• Maintain compliance with proprietary protocols, industry guidelines, and regulatory requirements (e.g., FCC, ITU, NOAA).

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• BS degree in a related technical field with 10-12 years of related experience or MS with 8-10 years of experience or a PhD with 5-7 years of experience
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience working with satellite systems, ground segment operations, or related projects.
• Deep understanding of satellite telemetry, tracking, and command systems (TT&C).
• Strong knowledge of orbital mechanics, spacecraft systems, and satellite communication networks.
• Proven expertise in managing real-time monitoring and anomaly troubleshooting for spacecraft and ground station operations.
• Excellent leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities in critical situations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with orbital adjustments, payload operations, and satellite mission deployment.
• Familiarity with advanced ground station systems and satellite control software.
• Knowledge of government regulations (FCC, ITU, or NOAA) and cybersecurity best practices in satellite operations.
• Proficiency in programming, data scripting, or automation tools (e.g., Grafana, Python, MATLAB, or similar programming languages/tools).
• Experience providing mentorship or leadership for junior operators or team members.

Work Hours & Environment:

• Primarily off-hours shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, to ensure 24/7 operational coverage.
• Flexibility to provide on-call support during critical situations or high-priority satellite events.
• Office-based role with access to satellite control centers and remote operation systems when required

Equal Pay Act

This is the projected compensation range for this position. There are differentiating factors that can impact a final salary/hourly rate, including, but not limited to, Contract Wage Determination, relevant work experience, skills and competencies that align to the specified role, geographic location (For Remote Opportunities), education and certifications as well as Federal Government Contract Labor categories. In addition, Arcfield invests in its employees beyond just compensation. Arcfield ’s benefits offerings include, dependent upon position, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay, Short Term and Long-Term Disability, Retirement and Savings, Learning and Development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections.Min: $125,614.73Max: $218,419.64

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and federal government contractor. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment as protected by law.