Engineer, Constellation Operations

Constellation Operations Engineer

About Us:

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

As a part of our Constellation Operations Engineering team, your responsibilities are expected to be wide ranging, spanning many different aspects of the constellation architecture including satellite systems, ground stations, and ground software. Specifically, you will train to operate the satellites while providing recommendations on operations procedure and process improvement from previous space industry experience. In this role, you will help ensure successful on-orbit satellite commissioning by serving on-console during launch and early operations activities. Your efforts to review telemetry and spacecraft logs will lead to anomaly investigation and resolution, as well as execution of routine maintenance across the constellation. You will conduct testing on virtual ground assets to prove concepts of operation and safety of commands before tasking satellites on orbit. With basic Python skills, you will begin contributing to a growing repository of software tools designed to streamline operations, reduce human-error and optimize constellation performance. This role reports to the Manager, Constellation Operations and will work in our Seattle, WA office with a flexibility for hybrid schedule.

Responsibilities:

• Rapidly learn our Constellation architecture, including spacecraft bus, flight software, ground network and ground control software throughout BlackSky's training and qualification program.
• Participate in technical efforts for on-orbit operations, including launch and early operations (LEOP), routine maintenance, and anomaly response.
• Investigate anomalies through telemetry trending and review, as well as execute Bench Testing and Maintenance tickets as assigned in Jira.
• Perform daily backroom support activities, including constellation data review, system log review, imaging performance and ground automation performance.
• Participate in operations software tooling development in Python. This includes data trending tools, automated constellation performance review, key performance metrics measurement and analysis, among other things.
• Plan and execute bespoke customer requests and on-orbit testing to validate, refine, and operationalize future capabilities.
• Support launch readiness activities as assigned.
• This position requires a rotational on-call support, as well as occasional short-duration 24/7 support, including launch activities and on-console anomaly support when required.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s in Aerospace, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science or equivalent.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in a technical engineering field.
• Experience in an operations environment (aerospace, gas/oil, nuclear, energy, manufacturing, etc.).
• Familiarity with satellite systems and the space environment.
• Possess strong team and inter-team cooperation and organization skills.
• A strong sense of self-motivation and ability to work concurrent tasks.
• Comfort working in mission-critical environments and making risk-based decisions.
• The program this role supports requires being a US-born citizen.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least three (3) years of experience in space operations environment (satellites, launch vehicles, ground stations).
• Subject matter expertise in one or more spacecraft subsystems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong understanding of audience.
• Experience working with systems in automation.
• Linux familiarity.
• Prior experience with Jira, Confluence, GitHub and STK or similar tools.

Life at BlackSky for full-time benefits eligible employees includes: