Engineer - Mission Operations

AIRBUS U.S. Space & Defense, Inc.•Merritt Island, FL

About The Position

Airbus U.S. is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer to design, analyze, test, and operate satellite and space mission systems. The position supports the full mission lifecycle, from operational concept development and system definition through integration, verification, validation, launch, commissioning, and on-orbit operations. The engineer will contribute to ground software architecture and the test capabilities used to operate and validate Airbus U.S. spacecraft. The primary responsibility is to deliver mission operations and mission systems products, spacecraft operations documentation, and customer deliverables. Work spans requirements definition and allocation, verification and validation, design and testing, delivery, and customer support. The engineer will autonomously solve complex problems through direct work and delegation, under the leadership of the Functional Avionics Engineering Director, and will have subject-matter responsibility and ownership. Mission operations product development accounts for 70% of the role. This includes developing system test tools and processes; defining operating modes, transitions, constraints, and requirements; authoring operational documents such as CONOPS and IOT plans; developing and verifying nominal, off-nominal, and contingency procedures; automating operational capabilities; coordinating training; and supporting integration, verification, readiness, commissioning, and on-orbit operations. The role also supports ground software requirements and architecture, spacecraft-to-ground interfaces, testing, integration, technical planning, reviews, and roadmaps. Mission systems development accounts for 30% of the role. The engineer supports architecture development for Airbus U.S. satellite systems, including the Arrow platform; requirements development and flowdown; mission-system behavior design and trade studies; architecture data products; and multiple design activities across programs or missions. The role also participates in cross-functional planning and execution with reporting to Program Managers. The position is based in Merritt Island, Florida; fully remote candidates located within the United States will also be considered. Periodic travel to Airbus U.S. facilities or partner companies is required (less than 20%), along with occasional international travel to collaborate with European Airbus counterparts. U.S. citizenship is required, and the candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a Government security clearance. An active DoD Secret clearance or higher is highly desirable.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in STEM or a related scientific area.
At least 5 years of experience with a bachelor's degree, or 2 years with a master's degree.
Proven track record working with aerospace hardware and software systems from conceptual designs and tradeoffs through detailed design, development, manufacture, integration, test, deployment, and operations.
Experience with aerospace hardware and/or software systems through design, development, integration, test, deployment, or operations.
Experience supporting spacecraft, satellites, mission operations, ground systems, or similarly complex systems.
Expertise in elements of space mission architectures, including launch, flight operations, mission CONOPS, and user interfaces.
Knowledge of system test and validation approaches, including test specification development, test procedure writing, and test report writing.
Experience with systems architecture, requirements definition and decomposition, and requirements verification and validation, such as Requirements Verification and Traceability Matrices.
Knowledge of space mission operations, including spacecraft modes, constraints, commanding, telemetry, nominal operations, and contingency operations.
Understanding of ground software architecture, spacecraft-to-ground interfaces, telemetry and command processing, databases, APIs, and automation.
Experience with system integration and test, including simulators, SIL/HIL environments, or end-to-end mission testing.
Experience with scripting or software development for operations, testing, or automation.
Ability to communicate clearly and work effectively across multidisciplinary technical teams.
Strong initiative, team-mindedness, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver results in a complex, fast-moving environment.
Demonstrated ability to deliver results.
U.S. citizenship.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Government security clearance.
Ability to perform the listed physical activities, including reading screens and documents, participating in conversations and hearing safety warnings, operating office equipment, carrying and lifting up to 40 pounds, sitting and standing for long periods, occasionally squatting or kneeling, and walking indoors and outdoors on uneven surfaces.
Current work authorization; Airbus states that it does not sponsor visas for U.S. positions unless specified.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in STEM or a related scientific area.
Experience leading or coordinating multidisciplinary technical teams.
Active DoD security clearance at Secret level or above.

Responsibilities

Deliver mission operations and mission systems products, spacecraft operations documentation, and customer deliverables throughout the development lifecycle.
Develop and grow system test tools, processes, and methods for Airbus U.S.
Define system operation modes, mode transitions, on-orbit constraints, and related mission operations requirements.
Own and author operational documents, including CONOPS, In-Orbit Test plans, and other operational documentation.
Define, develop, test, and verify nominal, off-nominal, and contingency mission operations procedures, including recovery actions.
Develop and automate mission operations capabilities to improve reliability, repeatability, and operational efficiency.
Coordinate mission operations training with Responsible Engineers, Subject Matter Experts, and other stakeholders.
Support mission integration, system verification and validation, operational readiness, commissioning, and on-orbit operations.
Support definition of ground software requirements, architecture, interfaces, data flows, telemetry, commanding, monitoring, and automation capabilities.
Translate spacecraft and mission operations needs into ground software requirements and operational capabilities.
Develop and mature ground-system and end-to-end testing capabilities for spacecraft interfaces, telemetry, commanding, procedures, and automation.
Support software and system integration and verification using simulators, test environments, and spacecraft hardware as applicable.
Develop tools, processes, and automation to improve mission operations testing and operational readiness.
Perform systems engineering activities to maintain and evolve Airbus U.S. spacecraft and mission operations capabilities.
Support development planning, technical reviews, test readiness, and operational readiness activities.
Support development and execution of technical roadmaps for mission operations and supporting ground capabilities.
Support Mission Systems Architecture development for Airbus U.S. satellite systems, including the heritage Arrow platform.
Support requirements development, including initial definition, decomposition, and flowdown.
Design mission-system behavior and conduct trade studies to support detailed design.
Generate Mission System Architecture data products, including CONOPS, algorithm descriptions, fault management design, and interface documents.
Drive multiple design activities across programs or missions.
Participate in cross-functional team planning, coordination, and task execution, reporting to Program Managers.
Provide autonomous solutions to complex problems through direct work and delegation under the Functional Avionics Engineering Director.
Support customers and deliver products through requirements definition and allocation, design, testing, verification and validation, and delivery.