Satellite Operations Engineer

The role

You will help build, automate and operate satellite programs. The work covers mission planning, satellite operations, on-call duty as Satellite Controller or Flight Director, and resolving in-orbit anomalies.

What you will do

• Understand and develop customer Concept of Operations (CONOPS)
• Interface with customers before and during mission deployment
• Create and maintain mission plans, schedules, operational procedures and data workflows
• Execute satellite operations, including on-call rotation as Satellite Controller/Flight Director
• Configure tools for mission operations, including Python procedures and Grafana telemetry dashboards
• Contribute to development of internal mission control software 'Cockpit'
• Assess and resolve in-orbit anomalies and maintain satellite performance and SLAs
• Develop automation for ground and space-based operations using Python, Lua and CUE
• Support test campaigns with 'test-as-you-fly' procedures and tools for AIT and flight operations

Required qualifications

• Experience interacting with and managing customers
• Strong background in satellite operations and/or working with downstream EO imagery data products
• Willingness to train as Satellite Controller/Flight Director, including commissioning and on-call rotation
• Proven software development or scripting experience, with strong automation skills
• Proficiency in Python and Git
• Pragmatic mindset balancing short- and long-term operational goals
• High accountability, autonomy and ownership in delivering results
• Openness to learning and working outside comfort zones in a fast-paced environment

Nice to have

• Strong understanding of the end-to-end satellite imagery value chain
• Experience working with defence customers
• Experience with Airbus satellite platforms (Arrow-150 bus) in Avionics, ADCS or propulsion
• Experience with LEO satellite operations and constellation management
• Background in satellite testing, AIT, validation and verification of complex systems
• Arabic language skills
• Proficiency in Lua and CUE

About the company

Orbitworks' mission is to make space simple for organizations that want to deploy physical and virtual missions to space. It will be the first commercial firm in the United Arab Emirates to mass-manufacture satellites, aiming for tens of satellites annually.