Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer

Job description

At ClearSpace, we believe in reusability, in affordability driving disruption, and that no progress is real unless it is sustainable. Our company was founded in 2018 out of the realization that in-orbit servicing and space debris removal are vital services for the future of space exploration and operations. Today ClearSpace has assembled an expert engineering team and is leading the way toward sustainable space operations. From a garage in Switzerland, we now operate across UK and Europe, and are working with world-leading institutions and companies to bring our dream of a sustainable space ecosystem to life. The Role We are seeking a Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer to lead the end-to-end design, development, and execution of mission operations. This role is instrumental in defining our ground and operations architecture, authoring flight procedures, and establishing a high-performing mission operations capability. You will lead operations planning by architecting long-term mission timelines, scheduling ground station passes, and forecasting resource utilisation. You will drive operations execution by managing real-time spacecraft commanding, monitoring and leading anomaly resolutions. Additionally, you will drive operational readiness through simulation campaigns and oversee long-term on-orbit spacecraft health and safety to ensure mission success. Role Responsibilities Mission Design System Lifecycle Alignment: Lead end-to-end mission operations design mapped to spacecraft development schedules, system architectures, and requirements. Milestone Reviews: Provide deep operations expertise and prepare/present technical packages at design reviews and bid proposals. Standards & Best Practices: Establish rigorous industry standards, strict configuration management, and flight ops processes to ensure high mission assurance. Operations Preparations Operations Documentation: Author comprehensive Operations Concepts, Spacecraft User Manuals, flight rules, constraints, and standard operational documentation. Procedure Development: Architect, validate, and maintain automated and manual flight procedures for both nominal and contingency mission scenarios. Operational Tooling & Scripting: Design, develop, and maintain software tools, automation scripts, and databases for mission planning, telemetry analysis, command generation, and pass execution. Operational V&V: Formulate and execute Verification and Validation (V&V) plans for flight procedures using flatstats, simulators, and testbeds. Simulation & Rehearsals: Plan and direct operational rehearsals, anomaly simulations, and team training programs to ensure flight controllers are certified and mission-ready. Team Technical Leadership: Organise, mentor, and direct junior engineers and flight controllers through the development phase prior to launch. Operations Execution Console Operations & Execution: Perform routine and critical real-time spacecraft operations execution, serving as a flight controller on a rotating shift team. Mission Planning & Scheduling: Orchestrate short and long-term operations planning, including orbital pass scheduling, ground station assignments, and command line activity generation. Trend Analysis: Perform system, subsystem, and instrument-level health and performance trend analysis to generate predictive reports and ensure long-term fleet survivability. Anomaly Investigation: Lead complex spacecraft anomaly investigations, participating in and executing rapid resolution workflows. On-Orbit Leadership: Acting as Flight Director, provide real-time technical direction to junior engineers and flight controllers during active on-orbit operations. Must Have University degree in a relevant engineering discipline; Significant demonstrable satellite industry experience, preferably through the complete life cycle of a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mission; Comprehensive knowledge of satellite subsystems, in particular AOCS/GNC or OBDH; Operation of satellite ground systems, in particular procedure development, monitor and control, mission planning, on-board software management, configuration management and simulator facilities; Can operate in a calm, orderly and disciplined manner during high stress situations; Able to identify problems, perform root cause analysis and implement appropriate solutions in a timely manner; Detail orientated and able to work using own initiative with limited supervision, as well as alongside other team members; Nice to Have Working knowledge of ECSS, CCSDS, PUS standards as applied to spacecraft operations. Experience of satellite assembly, integration & testing processes; Experience of formation-flying or close-proximity satellite operations; Software coding experience; Knowledge of Flight Dynamics and Orbital Mechanics.