Neworbit
Mission & Flight Operations Lead
2mo ago
EuropeLeadRemotemission controlflight operationsspacecraft operationstelemetryreal-time monitoring
Lead mission operations and flight operations capability for satellite spacecraft.
Responsibilities
- Establish and own NewOrbit’s mission operations capability from the start, defining how our spacecraft are commanded, monitored, and operated from the ground.
- You will lead the setting up of mission control, define spacecraft-ground and ground-station interfaces, develop real-time flight operations concepts, and support LEOP, commissioning, manoeuvres, nominal operations, and anomaly response alongside Mission Design and Communications.
Requirements
- Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
- Industry Experience: Minimum of 2-5 years of experience in spacecraft operations or as a spacecraft controller or similar. Previous experience as a spacecraft controller during LEOP, commissioning and safe-mode recovery is highly relevant.
- Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of real-time flight operations, including pass preparation, telemetry monitoring, telecommand execution, command verification, anomaly response, and post-pass analysis. Familiarity with CCSDS telemetry/telecommand standards, ECSS Packet Utilisation Standard, file transfer protocols, and time correlation is highly desirable.
- Mission Control Software: Experience with mission control system environments such as SCOS-2000, EGS-CC, Yamcs, OpenC3 COSMOS, or similar platforms is desirable. Ability to define operational needs for telemetry displays, command interfaces, alerting, logging, dashboards, and operator workflows.
- Programming Ability: Proficiency in Python or similar scripting languages for telemetry analysis, automation, reporting, validation, and operational tooling. Familiarity with Linux, Git, databases, APIs, network interfaces, or operational dashboards is desirable.
- Simulation and Testing: Experience supporting mission rehearsals, operational validation, flight software interface testing, procedure validation, and end-to-end spacecraft-to-ground testing. Ability to help prepare mission control systems, ground station interfaces, operational procedures, and teams for launch and commissioning.
Other
- At NewOrbit Space, our mission is to engineer the lowest orbiting satellites on Earth to rapidly advance global connectivity and insight.
- We are currently building satellites that can operate at an altitude of just 200 km - one-third that of conventional satellites.
- Lead the development of NewOrbit’s mission operations concept from an early phase, defining operational workflows, responsibilities, flight rules, procedures, and escalation paths.
- Act as the responsible engineer for spacecraft operations, ensuring the spacecraft, mission control system, ground stations, and engineering teams are aligned for flight.
- Define the requirements for NewOrbit’s mission control centre, including mission control software, telemetry displays, command interfaces, alerting, logging, operational dashboards, and access control.
- Support the selection, configuration, and validation of tools required for real-time spacecraft operations.
- Define and manage the operational interfaces between the spacecraft and ground segment, including telemetry, telecommand, command verification, event reporting, time correlation, file transfer, and mission data routing.
- Work with Flight Software and subsystem teams to maintain command dictionaries, telemetry databases, packet definitions, limits, and operational constraints.
- Work with the Communications team to define interfaces with external ground station providers, including pass scheduling, uplink and downlink operations, RF link monitoring, data delivery, and anomaly escalation.
- Develop operational approaches for short VLEO passes, missed contacts, changing visibility, and rapid orbit updates.
- Develop the operational concept for LEOP, commissioning, routine operations, orbit lowering, manoeuvre execution, payload operations, safe mode recovery, and end-of-life activities.
- Prepare pass plans, command sequences, operational timelines, and procedures while accounting for spacecraft subsystem and mission design constraints.
- Write, validate, and maintain operating procedures, contingency procedures, flight rules, console procedures, and operations documentation.
- Support end-to-end spacecraft-to-ground testing, mission rehearsals, operational readiness reviews, ground station interface tests, and commissioning preparation.
- Pioneering Space Technology – You'll contribute to launching groundbreaking technology into space. Your work on our revolutionary ion propulsion system and ULEO satellite platform will redefine satellite operations and disrupt traditional LEO operations.
- Unmatched Ownership and Impact – You'll experience a level of ownership that's rare in the space industry. You will participate in the full lifecycle of satellite technology.
- Equity and Competitive Salary – You'll receive not just a competitive salary but also company ownership stakes. Your dedication and hard work are rewarded with a share in the technology you help build, ensuring you're a part of our collective success.
- Comprehensive Benefits Package – Including private health insurance with dental and optical coverage, annual healthcare check-ups etc.
- Hybrid Work - A hybrid setup with one dedicated remote day per week.
- Visa Sponsorship & Relocation Support - We provide a relocation package and sponsor your visa if you’re joining us from abroad.