Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer - Mission Planner

L3Harris Technologies; Palm Bay (FL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies in Palm Bay, Florida is seeking an experienced Mission Planner to support space mission operations for a multi-satellite constellation. The Senior Specialist will lead planning, coordinate a three-person crew, and ensure safe, efficient execution in a 24/7 environment.

The ideal candidate has strong leadership, mission planning, and cross-functional coordination skills, with a background in satellite operations and telemetry.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 3+ years in spacecraft operations, telemetry, ground station scheduling, and command execution.
• Active security clearance (Secret) required.

Responsibilities

• Lead real-time mission planning and execution for a multi-satellite constellation in a 24/7 environment.
• Direct and coordinate a three-person shift crew to ensure disciplined execution of scheduled spacecraft operations.
• Develop and maintain daily and long-range mission plans including contacts, payload ops, and maneuver windows.
• Act as on-shift decision authority; manage operations, risks, and anomaly responses per procedures.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to translate mission requirements into executable operational plans.
• Review and approve command products, procedures, and schedule changes within authority.

Skills

Spacecraft operations

Telemetry monitoring

Ground station scheduling

Anomaly response

Leadership

Security clearance knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or higher

Tools

TT&C Software

VMOC

Job description

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title: Senior Specialist, Systems Engineer – Mission Planner
Job Code: 47068
Job Location: Palm Bay, Florida
Job Schedule: 9/80 (Every Other Friday Off!)

Job Description:
L3Harris Technologies is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Mission Planner to support space mission operations for a multi-satellite constellation in a dynamic, 24/7 operational environment.
The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and executing mission plans, coordinating spacecraft activities, and leading a small operational crew to ensure safe, efficient, and mission-focused execution.
This position requires a strong understanding of satellite command and control, mission planning, operational risk management, and cross-functional coordination. The Mission Planner will serve as the on-shift operational lead, overseeing mission execution, resolving scheduling conflicts, and coordinating responses to off-nominal conditions across a multi-satellite constellation.
The ideal candidate demonstrates sound operational judgment, strong leadership capabilities, and the ability to manage competing mission priorities in a time-sensitive environment.

Essential Functions:

• Lead real-time mission planning and execution activities supporting a multi-satellite constellation in a 24/7 operational environment.
• Direct and coordinate a three-person shift crew, ensuring disciplined execution of scheduled spacecraft operations and mission activities.
• Develop, validate, and maintain daily and long-range mission plans, including satellite contacts, payload operations, maneuver windows, and contingency activities.
• Serve as the on-shift operational decision authority within established procedures and delegated authorities, managing routine operations, execution risks, and initial anomaly response.
• Maintain situational awareness of spacecraft health, mission timelines, ground network availability, communication windows, and operational constraints across a 16-vehicle constellation.
• Identify and resolve mission scheduling conflicts, competing priorities, and operational constraints to maintain mission continuity.
• Coordinate shift turnovers, ensuring accurate transfer of spacecraft status, mission priorities, unresolved issues, and time-critical activities.
• Collaborate with engineering, flight dynamics, payload operations, ground systems, and program leadership to translate mission requirements into executable operational plans.
• Review and approve command products, operational procedures, and mission schedule changes within established authorization limits.
• Lead initial anomaly assessment and operational response activities, coordinating troubleshooting and escalation through established mission processes.
• Ensure compliance with operational procedures, configuration management, mission assurance requirements, and applicable safety standards.
• Maintain accurate operational logs, mission execution records, anomaly documentation, and shift activity reports.
• Participate in operational readiness reviews, mission rehearsals, simulations, and post-event assessments to improve mission performance and crew proficiency.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational efficiency, mission planning processes, and crew readiness.
• Support rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and surge operations as mission requirements dictate.
• Occasional travel to Huntsville, Alabama, or Grand Forks, North Dakota, may be required.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 4 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 2 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 8 years of prior related experience.
• Active Secret security clearance
• 3+ years’ experience working with spacecraft operations, telemetry monitoring, ground station scheduling, communication windows, and command execution processes.
• 3+ years’ experience supporting anomaly response, operational troubleshooting, incident documentation, and established escalation procedures.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Experience with Neptune Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (TT&C), Virtual Mission Operations Center (VMOC), or OCEAN software applications.
• Previous experience as a Mission Planner, Shift Lead, Crew Lead, Flight Controller, or Spacecraft Operator with operational leadership responsibilities.
• Experience supporting Low Earth Orbit (LEO) spacecraft, multi-satellite operations, or proliferated satellite constellations.
• Familiarity with flight dynamics products, orbital maneuver planning, conjunction screening, and mission timeline integration.
• Experience coordinating spacecraft activities across engineering, payload operations, ground systems, flight dynamics, and external mission partners.
• Knowledge of operational readiness testing, mission simulations, rehearsals, and on-console qualification or certification processes.
• Experience developing operational procedures, reviewing command products, and improving mission planning or execution processes.
• Familiarity with anomaly resolution processes, root cause investigations, corrective action development, and operational lessons learned.
• Active Top Secret clearance

#LI-ZB1

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

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