Principal Systems Engineer, On-Orbit Test Coordinator

Iridium Satellite, LLC•Huntsville, AL

6h•Hybrid

About The Position

Iridium is an award-winning satellite communications company providing global voice and data connectivity for over 20 years, supporting critical communications for various sectors including first responders, militaries, and remote operations. The company prides itself on reliability and fosters an empowering, inclusive, and innovative workplace. Iridium is seeking a Principal Systems Engineer to join its System Engineering team, supporting a Space Development Agency (SDA) project. This role involves interfacing between the Iridium Operations team (supporting SDA) and the Iridium System Engineering team to develop artifacts for the mesh network and ground segment operations. The Principal Systems Engineer will provide critical operations and integration support, implementing processes, procedures, checklists, and software tools for ground and satellite operations. The position requires interfacing with the U.S. government regarding Iridium-generated System Engineering documents that govern operations at the SDA operation centers. You will also lead the System Engineering team in directing on-orbit test activities in conjunction with numerous satellite vendors, working 12-hour shifts in a 24/7 multi-satellite operations environment. In this role, you will be orchestrating, directing, and conducting test activities in conjunction with these vendors, the SDA, and General Dynamics. This position requires an active/current Secret Security Clearance with the ability to obtain a Top-Secret Security Clearance (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active).

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in STEM or related field OR equivalent relevant experience in lieu of degree
10+ years of relevant experience in satellite operations, satellite on-orbit testing, ground system engineering, software integration and test, and/or software development
Skilled at the mechanics and operations of Low Earth Orbit Satellites
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey products, deliverables, analyses, and/or issues clearly and confidently, and recognize and adapt to different communication techniques
Can easily build meaningful relationships with others, including senior leadership outside of your own department, and comfortable providing constructive feedback to your team members and management
Be able to analyze a situation or problem, generate effective solutions, and see those solutions through to completion
Must possess the creativity and resourcefulness needed to make reliable decisions and determine methods on new assignments
Can thrive in a dynamic environment by handling multiple tasks and managing shifting priorities
Be proactive in sharing knowledge you’ve learned with others
Be able to work shifts of four days on, four days off, with 12 hours a day expected per shift
Be on call during times when the Operations Center is in backup mode
Be able to travel quarterly to Iridium CONUS facilities
Be a U.S. citizen
Active/current Secret Security Clearance with the ability to obtain a Top-Secret Security Clearance (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active)

Nice To Haves

Understanding of the SDA acquisition model, SDA space constellation, and SDA ground segment
Intelligence Community (IC) or Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition background
Working knowledge of Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
Working Proficiency of the Atlassian tool suite, to include JIRA and Confluence

Responsibilities

Lead the checkout and commissioning of both multiple on-orbit satellites and the accompanying ground segment, serving as the primary technical point of contact for all related activities
Develop, author, and execute detailed test plans and procedures for on-orbit activities, including payload activation, spacecraft subsystem checkouts, and system performance validation
Coordinate, mentor, and lead integrated test teams, including operators, analysts, and subsystem engineers, to ensure seamless execution of on-orbit checkout procedures and anomaly resolution
Archive test data and artifacts in preparation for the writing and generation of test reports used to validate satellite acceptance in the SDA Operations Centers
Conduct root cause analysis for any on-orbit anomalies, ground anomalies or performance deviations, working with design engineers and subject matter experts to develop and implement effective solutions
Prepare and present technical briefings to senior leadership and stakeholders, providing updates on mission status, checkout progress, and any identified risks or issues
Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation related to the on-orbit checkout process, including test reports, anomaly logs, and final system performance reports
Be responsible for the disposition and maintenance of test procedures
Work with satellite vendors to ensure synergy of on-orbit tests
Collaborate with SDA and Iridium program leadership to assess risks and provide recommendations for improvement to on-orbit operations
Identify and autonomously implement ideas, solutions, processes, procedures, and checklists focused on continuous process improvement, more efficient operations, and reduced service impacts.
Support the Operations team to facilitate crew training for recurring scenarios, ops affecting upgrades, and the Operational Crew Training and Certification process.