Senior Mission Operations Engineer (Aerospace)

Location: Oxfordshire, UK, Didcot (Hybrid). The role combines office- and home-based work with periods of consecutive on-site days or weeks in the Mission Control Centre during critical mission phases. Relocation allowance may be considered.

Company

hirify.global develops secure and sustainable on-orbit servicing solutions, including life extension, in-space situational awareness, end-of-life services, and active debris removal.

What you will do

• Act as an operations technical lead and rotate between Mission Manager, Spacecraft Operations Engineer, Mission Planning, and Spacecraft Controller responsibilities.
• Perform routine and critical real-time spacecraft operations across multiple mission phases.
• Develop, validate, maintain, and execute mission procedures, system validation tests, operational tools, software, and scripts.
• Coordinate planning, scheduling, on-call operations, spacecraft engineering, flight dynamics, ground systems, and ground station providers.
• Prepare mission operations plans, spacecraft user manuals, training, and SATSIM rehearsal campaigns.
• Investigate spacecraft anomalies, analyze health and performance trends, and support anomaly resolution and mission reviews.

Requirements

• Relevant university degree in engineering or a scientific discipline.
• At least 5 years of demonstrable satellite industry experience, preferably in real-time operations for a LEO mission across its complete life cycle.
• Comprehensive knowledge of satellite subsystems, particularly AOCS/GNC or On-Board Data Handling.
• Experience with mission control systems, procedure development, monitoring and control, mission planning, on-board software management, configuration management, and simulator facilities.
• Experience in satellite performance monitoring, reporting, anomaly analysis, and resolution with industry partners.
• Eligible to gain, or currently holding, security clearance at SC level or higher.

Nice to have

• Experience with SCOS-2000-based mission control systems and operations preparation tools.
• Systems engineering experience related to spacecraft operations.
• Formation-flying or close-proximity satellite operations experience.
• Knowledge of flight dynamics, orbital mechanics, and relevant ECSS standards for ground systems and operations.

Culture & Benefits

• Flexible working around core hours in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Optional 9/75 working pattern and hybrid working.
• 25 days of holiday, increasing yearly up to 28 days, plus 8 bank holidays.
• Life insurance, long-term sick pay, and private healthcare.
• State-of-the-art office and cleanroom facilities, with regular social events.