Payload Operations Engineer

Astranis • San Francisco, CA

36d

About The Position

As a Payload Operations Engineer at Astranis, you will play a key role in planning, executing, and optimizing the in-orbit operations of our communications payloads. You’ll combine mission engineering expertise with RF systems understanding to ensure payload performance, reliability, and responsiveness throughout mission life. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of space operations, RF systems, and software-driven telemetry and control.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering or related technical field.
• 0–7 years of experience in satellite operations, mission engineering, or RF systems engineering.
• Proficiency in Python and comfort developing telemetry visualization or automation tools.
• Experience with telemetry databases, command systems, or mission control software.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve complex system-level issues across hardware and software boundaries.
• Solid understanding of RF systems, modulation/demodulation, and link budgets.
• On call support for payload and TTC systems, up to one week per month
• Willing and able to obtain a security clearance
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a collaborative mindset.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in geostationary satellite payload operations.
• Familiarity with ground system architectures and RF test instrumentation.
• Experience with software development tools such as Git.
• Knowledge of embedded systems or spacecraft flight software interfaces.
• Experience with automation frameworks or machine learning applied to telemetry analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily and long-term payload operations, including performance monitoring, anomaly resolution, and optimization of on-orbit communications systems.
• Support mission design and execution, including link budget validation, mission configuration, and payload commissioning.
• Develop and maintain software tools and dashboards for payload telemetry, trending, and health monitoring.
• Define and implement telemetry and telecommand (TT&C) strategies to ensure safe and reliable operations.
• Coordinate cross-functionally between mission operations, ground software, and RF hardware teams to ensure seamless command and control.
• Perform data analysis of our payload and TTC performance across the fleet to ensure consistent performance and health of our satellites.
• Participate in mission rehearsals and payload readiness reviews, contributing to mission planning and operations documentation.
• Assist in defining and developing automation strategies for on-orbit payload control and fault detection.

Benefits

• All our positions offer a compensation package that includes equity and robust benefits.
• Base pay is a single component of Astranis's total rewards package, which may also include equity in the form of incentive stock options, high quality company-subsidized healthcare, disability and life insurance benefits, flexible PTO, 401(K) retirement, and free on-site catered meals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees