Ground Station Operations Engineer

About the role

Intuitive Machines is seeking multiple Ground Station Operations Engineers to join their team. This role can be filled at experience levels from early- to mid-career. These positions will support ongoing operations, along with development and testing of a commercial Telemetry, Tracking and Control (TT&C) network of ground stations. The applicant(s) will be located on-site at Intuitive Machines’ Houston, TX location, and will operate in a cross-functional team on the design, development, test, and operation of ground station hardware, including associated software.

Responsibilities

• Support advancement and real-time operations of IM’s global ground station network
• Aid in development and execution of test plans for ground station hardware, encompassing: Base Band Units (BBUs), AWS cloud infrastructure, RF systems, mission control center systems, and other critical ground elements
• Develop real-time operations products, including procedures, asset schedules, troubleshooting documentation and Interface Control Documents (ICDs)
• Serve as a real-time operator, eventually leading a small team of subsystem experts
• Participate in technical and programmatic meetings, including working groups, Integrated Product Teams (IPTs), etc.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to integrate ground software and network automation
• Develop and enforce Mission Rules to ensure vehicle/system health and mission objectives

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in ground station development/testing, real-time mission operations or related discipline; or M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering or related discipline and a minimum of 2 years of experience
• Proficiency in conducting ground station testing and operations
• Familiarity with test equipment such as network analyzers, oscilloscopes, modems, etc.
• Conducting benchtop testing of RF, analog and digital signals
• Knowledge of ground station hardware, including HPAs, LNAs, circulators, diplexers, etc.
• Experience making time-sensitive decisions in high-pressure, high-risk environments
• Pre-flight training and development of integrated procedures and mission rules
• Demonstrated cross-discipline support
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite and other collaboration tools (e.g., Atlassian Confluence, Jira, etc.)

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with ground station design and operations, including hardware, software, communications (RF)
• Experience with spacecraft and associated systems, e.g., flight control, flight dynamics, orbital mechanics, power systems, avionics, ground support systems (command, telemetry)
• Real-time spacecraft/satellite operations, preferably spanning multiple disciplines or functions
• Fundamental grasp of networking principles and protocols (TCP/IP, DHCP, UDP, routing)
• Proficiency in operational leadership and risk management
• Experience with international partners