(Senior) Mission Operations Engineer
Ispace Technologies
Operations
Luxembourg
Posted on Nov 29, 2024
About ispace Europe
ispace Europe is a leading company in lunar exploration, dedicated to expanding humanity’s presence on the Moon. We are developing the lunar transportation and technology infrastructure necessary to support long-term lunar industry and exploration. Located in the vibrant Luxembourg ecosystem, ispace Europe leads mission design and operations activities to deliver advanced lunar exploration capabilities.
Mission Overview
As we expand our local Mission Design and Operations (MDO) Engineering Group, we seek a (Senior) Mission Operations Engineer to lead the development, coordination, and execution of our mission control strategies, products, standards, and training certification. This position is crucial for ensuring operational readiness and operational continuity of our missions, encompassing the full project lifecycle from mission preparation to real-time execution and post-mission analysis. The cross functional collaboration and highly communicative nature of the role demands a demonstrated mix of technical expertise, leadership, and adaptability to dynamic space mission scenarios.
Key Responsibilities
- Mission Preparation and Planning
- Develop and refine operational products, including mission timelines, procedures, and contingency plans, to support lunar surface and cruise operations.
- Design and conduct mission readiness simulations, validation exercises, and risk assessments in collaboration with global ispace teams for operators' certification campaigns.
- Lead the definition and implementation of operational workflows for the mission control center, ensuring readiness for launch, cruise, lunar landing, and surface activities.
- Interface with cross-functional teams, including systems engineering, ground systems, and software engineering, to develop integrated mission operations plans.
- Real-Time Operations
- Serve as the console operator during active mission phases, overseeing telemetry monitoring, system performance, and critical event coordination.
- Manage anomaly detection, troubleshooting, and resolution, ensuring mission continuity and safety.
- Coordinate across engineering, science, and flight operations teams to respond dynamically to evolving mission requirements.
- Post-Mission Analysis and Improvement
- Analyze mission performance data, identifying lessons learned and opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Prepare comprehensive mission reports, presenting findings and recommendations to leadership, customers, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Drive the evolution of operational processes, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize future mission performance.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline from an accredited institution.
- 5+ years of professional experience in mission operations within the aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability engineering sectors.
- Knowledge of spacecraft subsystems, including power systems, propulsion, thermal management, and avionics.
- Knowledge of software coding or scripting languages (e.g., Python, MATLAB, C++) to support automation and data analysis in mission operations.
- Experience in developing and testing standard operating procedures (SOPs), checklists, and applicable products for mission control.
- Understanding and dexterity with space industry standards (e.g., NTSS, ECSS, ISO, or MIL-STD).
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
Preferred Qualifications
- A master’s degree in a relevant field such as Space Systems Engineering, Computer Science, Astrodynamics, or Systems Design.
- Industry-recognized certifications, such as NASA or ESA Mission Operations Trainings, or equivalent certification related to mission planning and coordination are considered an asset.
- Experience conducting hands-on, real-time console operations during active mission phases, including nominal and contingency situations, specifically for lunar, planetary, or deep-space missions would be an asset.
- Familiarity with mission control software suites and ground segment tools used for command and telemetry monitoring (e.g. Yamcs, Grafana).
- Practical knowledge of lunar surface operations, such as payload integration, terrain navigation, and scientific drivers.
- Experience with design reviews, mission readiness assessments, and post-mission evaluations/closeout activities.
- Familiarity with ground station operations (e.g. ESA Estrack, NASA DSN), spacecraft tracking systems, and communications protocols (e.g., CCSDS standards).
- Proven ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams in mission-critical scenarios.
- Demonstrated leadership in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
- #LI-FG1
Why Join ispace?
At ispace, you’ll be part of an ambitious team with the vision to pioneer lunar industry and exploration. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead the development of mission operations on the lunar surface, with significant growth potential and the ability to make a lasting impact on space exploration.
To apply, please submit your English resume and mandatory cover letter.
