Senior Mission Operations Engineer

Astranis Space Technologies; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Astranis Space Technologies in San Francisco, CA is seeking a Senior Mission Operations Engineer to work closely with hardware engineers to plan and operate satellite systems. You will develop procedures, test and execute operations, and automate processes to ensure reliable fleet performance.

You will lead design efforts for the satellite operations system, handle anomaly investigations, and contribute to ground software tooling.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in satellite operations.
• Experience scripting in any language, Python preferred.
• Experience performing telemetry analysis and anomaly investigation.
• Experience designing and executing satellite operations.
• Basic understanding of satellite subsystems (hardware and software).
• Highly motivated, self-starting, able to perform duties without supervision.
• A passion for working in a fast-paced environment and hands-on development and testing.

Responsibilities

• Play a large role in the design and development of our satellite operations system and team.
• Support 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.
• Responsible for 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.
• Support in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly-growing team.

Skills

Python scripting

Telemetry analysis

Anomaly investigation

Satellite operations

Hands-on development and testing

Autonomy / self-motivation

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.

Senior Mission Operations Engineer

As a Senior 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 must have experience with satellite operations engineering, and a deep understanding of at least one spacecraft subsystem.

Role

• Play a large role in the design and development of our satellite operations system and team
• Support 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
• Responsible for 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
• Support in recruiting, interviewing, and hiring additional teammates to our rapidly‑growing team

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience working in satellite 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, committed, and able to perform duties without supervision
• A passion for working in a fast‑paced environment and hands‑on development and testing

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.

Base Salary

$150,000—$195,000 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.