Spacecraft Operations and Analysis Engineer - US

Pixxel•Los Angeles, CA

36d•Remote

About The Position

We are looking for an enthusiastic and self driven individual to take up the responsibility of spacecraft operations. The primary responsibility of this role is to monitor and control the spacecraft as per the mission plan and schedules. The hire will need to ensure that there is zero downtime in operations due to operational lapses/errors, while also ensuring that the spacecrafts are safe and healthy.

Requirements

US Citizenship is Mandatory due to program requirements
Bachelor's degree in engineering (aerospace, electrical, computer, software, mechanical) or related technical discipline
2-3 years of direct experience in spacecraft operations, satellite subsystems, ground systems, or spacecraft command and control
Previous experience supporting mission operations activities in an on-console or operator-in-the-loop capacity
Solid understanding of key spacecraft subsystems: ADCS, EPS, space-to-ground communications, C&DH, TCS, propulsion, and FDIR
Working understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics
2+ years of direct software development experience (Python or similar), including ground scripting, automation, and data analysis
Demonstrated experience designing or architecting a process, tool, or system component with minimal existing template
Prior experience in satellite system design or ground systems architecture
Exposure to modern development practices — Git, CI/CD, cloud infrastructure
Proficiency with Agile issue-tracking tools (e.g., Jira) for mission task management and status tracking
Exposure to SIL/HIL testing frameworks
Strong communication skills in English, both speaking and writing, with the ability to clearly document procedures and share findings with the team
Strong observation skills with keen attention to detail and solid analytical ability, with a willingness to dig into anomalies rather than take data at face value
Systematic and process-oriented, with the discipline to stay calm and follow procedure carefully during high-pressure, real-time situations
Collaborative team player who works well across shifts and with cross-functional partners, and is comfortable asking for help or escalating when a situation is outside their experience

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a related engineering discipline

Responsibilities

Monitor, operate, and maintain mission planning and ground systems in live production environments, including real-time spacecraft monitoring and control in the control room
Serve as a senior on-console operator, executing routine and special operational procedures across all mission phases with minimal oversight
Own the development, validation, and maintenance of flight operational procedures and contingency procedures, ensuring strict adherence to configuration control standards
Lead on-call and shift schedule coverage, providing senior-level judgment and escalation support during non-nominal situations
Perform trending and performance analysis on spacecraft subsystems and instruments, diagnosing anomalies and defining new analysis checks and tooling as needed
Prepare, validate, and approve Operational Database change requests
Build and evolve core mission planning services and algorithms that power mission planning applications for a growing satellite constellation
Shape the architecture and design of mission planning and ground systems for scalability, reliability, and long-term operability, and advocate upstream for design choices that make spacecraft easier and safer to operate
Translate mission requests into executable satellite telecommands, including ownership of the telecommand database
Align mission plans with onboard scheduling and execution constraints to ensure operational feasibility across a growing fleet
Define engineering standards for reliability, CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, observability, and operational compliance across mission-critical systems, and drive their adoption across the operations team
Architect, develop, and test ground software and automation frameworks for robust, hands-off, long-duration space operations
Design, develop, and test flight software sequences and FDIR/telemetry configurations to support spacecraft health and fault management
Establish and maintain CI, version control, and release discipline for operational codebases
Champion automation as a core operational strategy, identifying where software-driven solutions can replace manual processes across the fleet
Lead validation of flight products and procedures against spacecraft simulation tools (flatsat, HITL, SIL, digital twins)
Support AIT teams across multiple spacecraft integrated tests (TVAC, propulsion stack, DITL)
Own requirements validation and verification for spacecraft subsystems and missions, including generation, maintenance, and disposition
Author and own operations system documentation, interface specifications, CONOPS, and flight operations manuals
Review space-to-ground interface specifications for accuracy and completeness, and flag design issues that affect operability
Collaborate across Flight Operations, Flight Dynamics, Payload, Satellite Operations, and Product leadership to translate mission needs into technical direction and system design
Provide technical inputs and recommendations to the Lead Engineer and program leadership on operations strategy and trades
Lead preparation and execution of critical mission campaigns
Identify, propose, and drive implementation of system and process improvements across the operations team
Represent mission operations in design reviews and readiness gates, and drive continuous improvement through post-mission lessons learned