Senior Payload Data Operator

About the role

FADA is looking for a Senior Payload Data Operator to design, develop and operate processing chains that convert raw satellite payload data into calibrated, analysis‑ready products. The role covers the full downstream chain from Level‑0 ingestion through Level‑1 and Level‑2 products for both electro‑optical (EO) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payloads.

Key responsibilities

• Define EO product specifications with end users, mission engineers and stakeholders.
• Translate user and mission requirements into processing specifications, product formats and metadata standards.
• Act as technical interface between payload processing, satellite operations and system engineering teams.
• Design, develop and maintain processing pipelines from raw data ingestion through Level‑0, Level‑1 and Level‑2 products.
• Implement optical image processing algorithms such as registration, georeferencing, orthorectification, radiometric and atmospheric correction, cloud masking and classification.
• Integrate workflows into scalable, automated processing systems meeting throughput and latency targets.
• Support multi‑payload and multi‑sensor operations across platforms.
• Continuously improve processing chains by evaluating new algorithms, tools and techniques.
• Participate in payload characterization, calibration and validation activities.
• Lead investigations of data chain anomalies and drive resolutions.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and represent FADA with suppliers and partners.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Remote Sensing, Geomatics, Aerospace Engineering or a related discipline.
• 5‑8 years of experience in satellite payload data processing, including responsibility for processing chains, algorithms or product lines.
• Hands‑on experience with both EO and SAR payloads, from calibration to product generation.

Required skills

• EO data processing
• SAR data processing
• Optical image processing algorithms (registration, georeferencing, orthorectification, radiometric correction, atmospheric correction, cloud masking, classification)
• Design and operation of payload data processing pipelines
• Remote sensing principles and metadata standards