Satellite Engineer
RigNet
One team. Global challenges. Infinite opportunities. At Viasat, we’re on a mission to deliver connections with the capacity to change the world. For more than 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the globe communicate. We’re looking for people who think big, act fearlessly, and create an inclusive environment that drives positive impact to join our team.
What you'll do
To perform on-orbit engineering functions for the ViaSat fleet of satellites. This position applies professional engineering knowledge to the development, implementation, and maintenance of satellite operations systems and processes through the spacecraft lifecycle: Including design review, operations integration and handover, long-term operations through decommissioning. The position requires sound systems knowledge of the fundamentals of spacecraft operations spanning multiple spacecraft subsystems including communications payload, attitude control, power, thermal, data handling and propulsion.
The day-to-day
- Monitor, assess and maintain the operational health of ViaSat’s in-orbit spacecraft. Includes defining, developing and executing command plans to institute spacecraft configuration changes, and creating and maintaining alarm limits to alert operators of non-nominal spacecraft conditions.
- Perform complex analysis to monitor the health of systems and subsystems throughout the satellites lifecycle.
- Identify, investigate, and resolve spacecraft system and subsystem deviations and anomalies.
- Participate in the development of satellite operations procedures, products and processes based on manufacturer’s documentation and operations protocol. This includes development of procedures and command files for new satellites and updates to existing on-orbit spacecraft.
- Develop and distribute reports summarizing technical analysis findings and recommendations to include monthly and annual satellite health and status reports as well as anomaly resolution reports.
- Support the development of test plans, conduct acceptance or regression tests, and resolve issues related to ground telemetry, tracking, and commanding software updates.
- Support the development, launch, and in-orbit test of new satellites.
- May be responsible for project scheduling and coordinating activities among several engineers both within and external to the department.
- May assist with preparing specifications and evaluating proposals.
- Support on-call responsibilities.
What you'll need
- A Bachelor's Degree in an Engineering discipline
- At Minimum 3+ years of professional experience in on-orbit Satellite Engineering/Operations is preferred or an equivalent combination of education and work experience in satellite operations engineering is acceptable
- Computer experience is required to operate various satellite operations ground systems.
- Proficiency in Unix, Matlab, Perl, VBA, and/or Python
- Demonstrated ability to apply engineering principles and practices across spacecraft applications of engineering disciplines such as electrical, mechanical, thermal logic, computer application
- US Citizen required
- Eligibility for U.S. Government Security Clearance is required
What will help you on the job
- Knowledge of one or both of the BSS 702 or Airbus E3000 spacecraft designs and operations
- Must be able to work autonomously and perform self-directed research
- Good communication skills, including the ability to express ideas clearly both verbally and in writing
- Ability to analyze time varying data in plots or tables for specific signatures
- Natural curiosity to understand how engineering systems function and to analyze performance
- Expertise in one or more specific spacecraft subsystems, and willingness to become proficient in multiple spacecraft subsystems
- Intermediate Excel programming skills, including macro development experience, is desired.
Salary range
$85,850.00 - $143,750.00 / annually
At Viasat, we consider many factors when it comes to compensation, including the scope of the position as well as your background and experience. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional cash or stock incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Learn more about Viasat’s comprehensive benefit offerings that are focused on your holistic health and wellness at careers.viasat.com/LifeAtViasat/Benefits.
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