Senior Mission Operations Preparation Engineer

This role will allow the right candidate to shape technical solutions for our missions, develop operations concepts, tools, and prepare the team for mission execution. The candidate will interact extensively with the design and development engineers across functions and support tests conducted in the AIV and operational environments.

The role requires a proactive person who is keen to learn and grow and is happy to get stuck in with all aspects of the Spacecraft Operations team.

• Act as an Operations Technical Lead for the mission under development.
• Develop Mission Operations Concept for a standalone mission or a satellite fleet.
• Support the Preparation Team Lead in Operations Development Plan and ensure follow through from Preliminary Design until end of mission.
• Develop Operability requirement and user stories with close coordination with the Flight Operations team and mission segments.
• Contribute to mission interface definitions (e.g. ICDs, data-budget, flight software application)
• Contribute to the Subsystem/Unit and Project Reviews.
• Act as product owner to the Operations User manual/handbook.
• Support the Operations Procedure development for the Mission OPS team.
• Support the satellite simulator development and mission database management.
• Develop test specification, plan and procedure to conduct System Validation Test.
• Support the preparation and participate in Mission Simulation Test or similar system tests.
• Identify and specify tools to support the mission execution (e.g. database tool, trending tool, dashboards, context management etc.).
• Act as a System-Operations teams interface during mission execution (LEOP, Commissioning, Routine, Disposal).
• Support to anomaly resolution of in-flight satellites may be expected, as part of a 24/7 on-call team (TBC).

• Engineering, physics or an equivalent degree.
• Several years of demonstrable satellite industry experience in real time operations, spacecraft operations preparation through the complete life cycle. A candidate with a primarily system engineering background may also be considered.
• Knowledge of space standards (ECSS, CCSDS, ISO).
• Knowledge of mission control systems, SCOS-2000 or similar.
• Knowledge and hands on experience with system engineering processes.
• Experience developing and validating flight procedures.
• Experience of system testing and AIT processes.
• Software coding experience with Scripting languages, e.g. Python, tcl.
• Self-managed and proactive working style.

• Familiarity with Operations Preparation tools such as MOIS or script-based tools.
• Familiarity with routine and critical real time satellite operations.
• Familiarity with configuration management.

• Competitive base salary
• Opportunity to work with a highly talented, diverse & dynamic international team with cutting edge technology
• Flexible working around core hours in a friendly and supportive environment
• Optional 9/75 working pattern
• Hybrid working available (dependent on individual role requirements)
• 25 days holiday (increasing yearly up to a maximum of 28 days) + 8 days Bank Holiday
• Life insurance and long-term sick pay
• Private healthcare (taxable benefit)
• Relocation allowance considered
• Visa sponsorship for employees considered
• State of the art office and cleanroom facility
• Regular social events

Astroscale UK (Harwell).

Astroscale is the global leader in on-orbit servicing, dedicated to the secure and sustainable development of space. The company delivers a variety of innovative and scalable on-orbit servicing solutions, including life extension, refurbishment, upgrades, in-situ space situational awareness, end-of-life, and active debris removal. Since its first successful launch in March 2021, Astroscale has proven rendezvous and proximity operations technologies in orbit during the ELSA-d and ADRAS-J missions.

Astroscale spacecraft have been selected for pioneering missions with JAXA, the U.S. Space Force, the European Space Agency, the UK Space Agency, and Eutelsat. As more satellite operators adopt on-orbit servicing to routinely inspect, relocate, remove, and extend the life of spacecraft, the potential of a circular space economy — and a future of no waste in space — is being unlocked.

Headquartered in Japan, Astroscale has a global presence with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Israel. Find out more about Astroscale at

At Astroscale UK we pride ourselves on our inclusive culture. Our essential criteria are based solely on the requirements necessary to perform the role. If any criteria could present a barrier, we are open to discussing reasonable adjustments and are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process. Astroscale UK is also open to supporting job share arrangements, to further our flexible working offering.