Senior Mission Operations Engineer (Spacecraft Operations)

Location: Harwell, Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK; hybrid office- and home-based working pattern, with required on-site presence in the mission control centre for consecutive days or weeks during critical mission phases.

Company

hirify.global develops on-orbit servicing solutions for life extension, refurbishment, upgrades, space situational awareness, end-of-life services, and active debris removal.

What you will do

• Act as an operations technical lead and provide guidance and mentoring to less experienced team members.
• Perform routine and critical real-time spacecraft operations, rotating between Mission Manager, Spacecraft Operations Engineer, Mission Planning, and Spacecraft Controller roles.
• Develop, validate, maintain, and execute mission operations procedures, system validation tests, software tools, and scripts.
• Coordinate planning and scheduling, on-call operations, spacecraft engineering, flight dynamics, ground systems, and ground station providers.
• Prepare mission documentation, training, and SATSIM rehearsal campaigns, and contribute to mission reviews and operations preparation activities.
• Develop novel operational solutions, monitor spacecraft health and performance, and investigate anomalies through resolution.

Requirements

• University degree in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of demonstrable satellite industry experience, preferably in real-time spacecraft operations as part of a flight control team operating a Low Earth Orbit mission through its complete life cycle.
• Comprehensive knowledge of satellite subsystems, particularly AOCS/GNC or On-Board Data Handling.
• Experience with mission control systems, including procedure development, monitoring and control, mission planning, on-board software management, configuration management, and simulator facilities.
• Experience monitoring and reporting satellite performance, including anomaly analysis and resolution with industry partners.
• Ability to operate accurately and calmly in high-stress situations, identify problems logically, perform root-cause analysis, and implement timely solutions.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision and collaboratively with other team members.
• Ability to conceptualise and deliver novel spacecraft operations concepts for multiple parallel projects and missions with a small engineering team.
• Eligible to gain, or currently holding, security clearance at SC level or higher.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with mission control systems, preferably SCOS-2000-based.
• Experience with systems engineering aspects of spacecraft operations.
• Experience with formation-flying or close-proximity satellite operations.
• Familiarity with operations preparation tools.
• Knowledge of flight dynamics and orbital mechanics.
• Familiarity with relevant ECSS standards for ground systems and operations.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid working with flexible hours around core hours and an optional 9/75 working pattern.
• 25 days of holiday, increasing yearly to a maximum of 28 days, plus 8 bank holidays.
• Life insurance, long-term sick pay, and private healthcare.
• Relocation allowance considered.
• State-of-the-art office and cleanroom facilities, with regular social events.
• Inclusive, diverse, and supportive international working environment.