Principal Service Owner, GMDSS

Iridium; Tempe (AZ); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

Iridium is seeking a Senior Service Owner to act as the technical authority for the end-to-end GMDSS service, guiding cross-functional teams and aligning technology with business goals. You will lead roadmap execution, drive CI/CD and SAFe practices, and manage the GMDSS backlog to maximize value.

You will collaborate with stakeholders and subcontractors, mentor engineers, and ensure adherence to Iridium standards while advancing system performance, reliability, and scalability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field OR equivalent relevant experience
• 10+ years of relevant experience in the satellite or related communications industry
• Experience with SAFe/Agile practices and Atlassian Tool Suite (JIRA, R4J, Confluence)
• Working knowledge of implementing solutions in AWS or other cloud environments
• Excellent communication skills with ability to engage executive leadership and cross-functional teams
• Strategic thinker with decisive judgment and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Proactive in identifying improvements and mentoring peers and junior team members
• Experience addressing all elements of the service lifecycle for complex communications and/or space-based systems

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority for the end-to-end GMDSS service and interfaces
• Develop understanding of the GMDSS ecosystem to drive technical decisions
• Drive implementing and improving CI/CD pipelines and SAFe/Agile practices
• Collaborate with stakeholders and subcontractors to align development with objectives
• Manage the GMDSS backlog prioritizing initiatives for value and efficiency
• Lead system analyses and trade studies addressing complex challenges
• Identify risks and provide actionable recommendations to leadership
• Establish and improve processes aligning with Iridium standards
• Provide mentorship and guidance to peers and junior engineers
• Drive cross-functional initiatives to enhance system performance and scalability

Skills

Communication

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Mentoring

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Computer Science or related

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

R4J

AWS

Job description

Overview

Iridium is an award-winning satellite communications company operating the world's only truly global voice and data network, delivering reliable connectivity anywhere on Earth. For more than 20 years, Iridium has powered mission-critical communications for governments, businesses, aviation, maritime, and the rapidly expanding Internet of Things.

Now part of Iridium, Aireon is the world’s only space-based air traffic surveillance system, providing real-time visibility of aircraft over oceans, the poles, and remote regions. Together, Iridium and Aireon are helping build a safer, more connected, and more efficient future for global aviation.

Join our team and help shape how the world stays connected. We foster a collaborative, inclusive culture where employees are empowered to innovate, grow professionally, and make a meaningful impact.

Responsibilities

What We’re Looking For:

Iridium is seeking a Senior Service Owner who will be the technical authority responsible for the life cycle and evolution of our GMDSS service. This will include responsibilities for all supporting products & services which comprise the GMDSS ecosphere. In this role you will be the lead systems engineer and focus primarily on executing the GMDSS vision and roadmap, guiding cross-functional teams to deliver high-value solutions, and ensuring alignment between technology, operations, and business objectives. You will thrive in this role if you are a proactive leader who can translate complex technical concepts into actionable strategies, influence stakeholders across the organization, and drive innovation while maintaining a customer-focused mindset.

What You’ll Do:

• Serve as the technical authority and subject matter expert for the end-to-end GMDSS service, providing strategic guidance across all network components, interfaces, and supporting services
• Develop a deep and broad understanding of the GMDSS ecosystem and leverage this knowledge to help drive technical decisions and product evolution
• Drive implementing and improving CI/CD pipelines and SAFe/Agile practices across the GMDSS team
• Collaborate with senior stakeholders, segments, and sub-contractors to ensure development remains aligned with strategic objectives and delivers high-quality, customer-focused solutions
• Manage the GMDSS feature and defect backlog, prioritizing initiatives to maximize business value and operational efficiency
• Lead comprehensive system analysis, trade studies, and data-driven evaluations are conducted to address complex, high-impact technical and operational challenges
• Identify risks, flaws, and improvement opportunities in processes, tools, and deliverables, providing actionable recommendations to leadership
• Establish, maintain, and improve processes that ensure adherence to all applicable Iridium SE standards and best practices in managing GMDSS products
• Provide technical expertise, leadership, mentorship and guidance to peers and junior engineers, fostering knowledge sharing and continuous learning within the team
• Drive cross-functional initiatives that enhance system performance, reliability, and scalability, ensuring GMDSS remains aligned with the company’s strategic roadmap

Qualifications

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field OR equivalent relevant experience in lieu of a degree
• 10+ years of relevant experience in the satellite or related communications industry, with demonstrated expertise in software and hardware development, systems engineering practices, and integration of COTS equipment, COTS software, and customer software for specialized applications
• Experience addressing all elements of the service lifecycle for complex communications and/or space-based systems
• Proficient in SAFe/Agile practices and familiar with tools such as the Atlassian Tool Suite (JIRA, R4J, Confluence)
• Working knowledge of implementing solutions in AWS or other cloud environments.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey products, deliverables, analyses, and technical issues, while adapting style to engage executive leadership and cross-functional teams
• Strategic thinker with strong judgment and decisiveness, capable of analyzing complex situations and driving effective solutions
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic environment, managing multiple priorities according to deadlines and budget limitations
• Proactive in identifying new and improved ways of doing things, sharing knowledge, and mentoring peers and junior team members
• Creative, resourceful, and decisive, with a demonstrated ability to manage risks and respond effectively to critical situations

We’ll also need you to:

• Travel as needed (up to 25%)
• Be able to work a hybrid schedule that includes at least 4 days in office
• Be on-call to support operational issues as needed

Work Environment:

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer.

We believe in-person connection drives innovation, strengthens mentorship, and builds culture, while flexibility enables employees to do their best work. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least four days per week (approximately 80%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship‑building, and professional growth.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.

Base Pay Range: $140,000 - $182,000 USD

Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors and this range represents an estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Base salary is only one part of our compensation package for this role. You may also be eligible for company stock and annual bonus. Employee benefits also include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid time off and paid holidays; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.