Senior Mission Operations Engineer – TeraWave

About the role

Blue Origin is pioneering the future of space-based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network designed to deliver symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This multi-orbit constellation will consist of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO), providing enterprise-grade connectivity for critical operations worldwide.

Responsibilities

• Develop mission plans, operations concepts, tools, and processes that enable highly effective and labor-efficient real-time spacecraft and ground system operation through automation
• Lead small teams in the development and implementation of detailed operations procedures, executables, telemetry displays, technical documentation, and other products
• Ensure deliverables meet applicable quality standards, while promoting maximum reuse and backward compatibility
• Conduct testing and validation of ops products using a variety of hardware and software simulation environments that span the space and ground domains
• Support systems engineering and other disciplines in developing a spacecraft concept of operations, ensuring efficiency and operability for the end-user
• Create detailed test procedures to validate end-to-end system capabilities
• Analyze and assess ground station selection for optimal communications availability
• Coordinate staffing for mission operations events and work with our training team to ensure certification of on-console personnel
• Support mission readiness activities including mission rehearsals, mission timeline development, and post-launch test development
• Provide real-time leadership during spacecraft launch and early orbit phase, including shift work, from Blue Origin’s mission control facilities in Texas and elsewhere
• Monitor spacecraft state-of-health across all subsystems, perform trending and analyses, and track spacecraft and ground system configurations
• Support the troubleshooting and resolution of on-orbit anomalies as part of an anomaly response team
• Foster continuous improvement by contributing, tracking, and implementing lessons-learned for the benefit of future missions
• Provide instruction and mentorship to early career engineers, building depth of expertise and capability within the mission operations engineering team

Requirements

• B.S. in Aerospace, Electrical, Computer Science, Systems, or related fields
• 3+ years of experience managing technical teams
• 12+ years of proven experience in spacecraft operations development and execution, including real-time support for on-orbit operations in a flight director or comparable leadership role
• Extensive development of spacecraft operations products, including procedures, telemetry displays, scripts, and other technical documents
• Experienced in configuration and product data management

Qualifications

• M.S. in Space Systems, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Aerospace Engineering
• Direct support for a commercial or government spacecraft operations organization, as well as a deep understanding of their use cases and approach to operations
• Proficiency with command-and-control scripting languages, such as Python, SPELL, STOL, or JAS
• Experience working with virtualized Ground Software (e.g., Command & Control, Mission Planning, Flight Dynamics, Electronic Procedures, Software Simulators)
• Experience with mission planning and contact planning tools
• Experience with scrum methodology and agile product development
• Experience in full development lifecycle of space systems’ ground segments
• Mission analysis, flight planning and timeline development (tool and analysis)
• Experience designing and evaluating operational readiness tests integrated with hardware-in-the-loop, and software-in-the-loop simulators
• Experience with operational fault and anomaly management
• Experience with performing system safety analyses including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analyses (FMECA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including ability to make persuasive presentations to external customers at gated milestone reviews
• Ability to earn trust, build positive professional relationships

Skills

• Systems-thinking
• End-operator and customer focus
• Persistence and passion to build space operations capabilities from the ground up

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Short and long-term disability
• 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%
• Education Support Program
• Stock Options for all regular employees (working at least 20 hours/week)
• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays