Space Systems Engineer III - On-Orbit Test Coordinator

Iridium Communications Inc; North Dakota; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company stock

Annual bonus

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

PTO and paid holidays

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Iridium is seeking a Systems Engineer III with space systems architecture experience for the SDA Project. You will deliver on-orbit checkout procedures, coordinate cross-functional teams, and support ground and satellite operations in a 24/7 multi-satellite environment.

The role requires a active security clearance, a relevant engineering degree, and 5+ years in satellite operations or related fields. Hybrid/onsite work and strong collaboration with government stakeholders are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or related field
• 5+ years of relevant experience in satellite operations, satellite on-orbit testing, ground system engineering, software integration and test, and/or software development
• Strong knowledge of system engineering methodologies and AGILE processes
• Strong familiarity with tools and software applications that support system engineering best practices
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to confidently present products, deliverables, analyses, and/or issues
• Possess an analytical mindset, with the ability to understand a situation or problem and think critically to make decisions or come up with solutions
• Be active in seeking out ways to continuously improve yourself and gain new knowledge
• Skilled at the mechanics and operations of Low Earth Orbit Satellites

Responsibilities

• Be responsible for supporting the on-orbit checkout and commissioning of satellites and associated ground segment activities, coordinating technical inputs and deliverables across participating teams
• Maintain, and execute detailed test plans and procedures for a variety of on-orbit activities, including payload activation, spacecraft subsystem checkouts, and system performance validation
• Coordinate across operators, analysts, subsystem engineers, satellite vendors, contractors, and government stakeholders to execute on-orbit test activities and support timely resolution of issues
• Analyze telemetry data in real-time during checkout events to assess system health and performance, identify anomalies, and provide critical insights to the mission team
• Conduct root cause analysis for any on-orbit anomalies or performance deviations, working with design engineers and subject matter experts to develop and implement effective solutions
• Prepare and present technical briefings to senior leadership and stakeholders, providing updates on mission status, checkout progress, and any identified risks or issues
• Maintain comprehensive documentation related to the on-orbit checkout process, including test reports, anomaly logs, and final system performance reports
• Generate and develop test procedures, in conjunction with existing plans for on-orbit test procedures
• Be responsible for the disposition and maintenance of test procedures
• Work with satellite vendors to ensure synergy of on-orbit tests
• Be responsible for assigned documentation within SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, or other relevant Iridium databases or tools
• Collaborate with SDA and Iridium program leadership to assess risks and provide recommendations for improvement to on-orbit operations
• Provide technical writing assistance in the development of Basis of Efforts (BOE)
• Interface between the Iridium Operations team supporting the SDA and the Iridium System Engineering team in developing artifacts associated with the operations of the mesh network and ground segment
• Provide integration support to improve our efficiency and effectiveness by implementing processes, procedures, checklists, and software tools for ground and satellite operations

Skills

System engineering

Agile processes

Analytical mindset

Communication

Ownership

Education

Bachelors degree in aerospace/electrical engineering

Tools

JIRA

Confluence

R4J

Job description

Iridium is seeking a Systems Engineer III with space systems architecture experience for the SDA Project. You will deliver on-orbit checkout procedures, coordinate cross-functional teams, and support ground and satellite operations in a 24/7 multi-satellite environment.

The role requires a active security clearance, a relevant engineering degree, and 5+ years in satellite operations or related fields. Hybrid/onsite work and strong collaboration with government stakeholders are expected.