Senior Satellite Operations Engineer

About the role

As a Senior Satellite Operations Engineer, you will be a key contributor to the development, automation and operation of Orbitworks' satellite programs. It is a hands-on satellite operations role combined with software development and systems engineering, covering the full stack from design to orbit. Orbitworks aims to mass-manufacture satellites and operates out of a 50,000-square-foot facility in Abu Dhabi.

Key responsibilities

• Execute satellite operations, including taking part in the on-call rotation as Satellite Controller/Flight Director.
• Configure and set up program tools such as procedures, dashboards, subschedules, resolvers and auto-pilot plans.
• Configure systems for commissioning and nominal operations, and handle anomalies to maintain space infrastructure performance.
• Develop automation for ground and space-based operations, and script mission performance and cockpit configurations, preferably in Python.
• Validate and verify tools used in satellite operations, and support test campaigns before and during launch using the "Test as We Fly" methodology.
• Understand customer CONOPS, interface with customers before and during mission deployment, and apply the Test as We Fly approach to mission-critical systems.

Required profile

• Strong background in satellite operations and complex systems management.
• Willingness to train as a Satellite Controller/Flight Director, including commissioning and on-call rotation.
• Proven software development experience with strong automation skills.
• Ability to work across the full hardware/software stack (ground-based, space-based and interface systems).
• Pragmatic mindset, high accountability and autonomy, and openness to learning in a fast-paced environment.

Required skills

• Proficiency in Python and Git.
• Scripting experience for automation and mission operations.
• Nice to have: experience with Airbus Arrow-150 bus platforms, LEO operations and constellations, customer interaction, satellite testing and AIT, and Arabic.