Spacecraft Operations Engineer

Spacecraft Operations Engineer | Guildford | Hybrid | Competitive salary + strong package

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Spacecraft Operations team and take a leading role in space missions, from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and beyond. As a Spacecraft Operations Engineer, you will be involved in the entire mission lifecycle—from early development and spacecraft testing to live operations, troubleshooting, and end-of-life procedures.

This role offers the chance to be at the forefront of space exploration, working hands-on with cutting-edge spacecraft in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Key Tasks
Managing spacecraft operations work packages for new missions:

• Working with the System Engineer to understand and help shape CONOPS for future missions
• Identification and communication of spacecraft operations requirements and constraints for these missions
• Supporting internal and external milestone reviews for projects
• Supporting ground-based spacecraft testing
• Producing spacecraft operations handbooks
• Defining, documenting, and testing operational procedures
• Defining, documenting, and testing spacecraft commissioning procedures
• Planning and managing spacecraft commissioning campaigns
• Customer Engineer support and training

Supporting operation of existing on-orbit assets:

• Routine monitoring of, and interaction with Spacecraft
• Support anomaly investigation activities
• Support Mission Services in responding to and co-ordinating customer requests for operations support
• Analysis of historical trend data for spacecraft health monitoring
• Support to operations out of hours on-call activities, once sufficient experience is gained.

Supporting the Spacecraft Operations Centre infrastructure:

• Supporting, when required, Spacecraft Operation Infrastructure & Ground Engineers in routine maintenance of ground assets
• Working with the Spacecraft Operations Team, the Ground Software Team, and the Ground Segments Team to ensure that the Spacecraft Operations Centre and associated equipment is fully operational

Previous Experience
Previous experience in Spacecraft Operations or Space Systems Engineering

Qualifications Knowledge & Skills

• Degree in Space engineering, or similar
• Good understanding of space and ground segment systems
• Good understanding of orbital mechanics
• Understanding of RF communications systems
• Good team working skills, together with the ability to interface with others at all levels
• Excellent written documentation and communication skills
• Attention to detail essential
• Good organisation skills and able to prioritise own workload
• Able to work autonomously and use own initiative to progress tasks
• Proven ability to handle pressure and work to tight deadlines when times are busy
• Decision making and creative problem-solving skills
• Flexible and must be able to work out of hours on occasion
• Foreign travel for a number of weeks will be required during commissioning phases and other customer support activities
• Competence with MS Windows and its components (e.g. registry, networking)
• Good MS Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint particularly)
• Able to demonstrate company mindsets and behaviours; Be accountable, Drive & delivery, Communicate effectively, Self-manage effectively, Work as one team

Visa Support
UK Skilled Worker Visa and sponsorship is available for this role.  Relocation assistance also available.
 
Benefits

• Highly competitive Salary
• Flexible hybrid working policies
• 32 days annual leave + BH
• Annual Company Bonus Scheme
• Up to 8% employer pension contribution
• Life Assurance (6X salary)
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity leave
• Multiple Discount, Memberships schemes