Role description summary

The Engineer, Flight Dynamics is responsible for the orbital control, co-location, orbital events prediction, momentum management and propellant lifetime estimation of the SES GEO and MEO satellites, for the development of the orbital and satellite control software and shadowing of transfer orbit mission operations in the Flight Dynamics section.

Primary responsibilities

• Be responsible for a safe and efficient co-location and/or station-keeping of the SES GEO and MEO satellites, while minimizing propellant usage to maximize satellite lifetime, satisfying satellite constraints, and avoiding risk of collision between SES co-located satellites. This responsibility involves following activities: orbit determination, maneuver planning and computation, momentum management (part of attitude control), maneuver performance analysis and calibration.
• Design, develop and test software in the orbital or satellite control fields.
• Manage the appropriate actions in case of large, unexpected orbit perturbations or maneuver execution or performance issues, in order to maintain the satellite in the longitude window and to avoid risk of collision. Provide on-call support.
• Determine and maximize satellite propellant lifetime of SES satellites, including propellant tank management.
• Provide orbit and related events predictions information to internal sections, external organization (e.g. Teleport) and customers (e.g. for ground antenna pointing, customers of hosted payload like WAAS or GOLD).
• Perform conjunction analysis, interface with external organization (e.g. US Air Force, satellite operators) and plan corrective maneuvers in case of close approach with another satellite or debris. Provide on-call support in consequence.
• For satellites to be launched, review and challenge the mission design, shadow the implementation and lead the maneuver planning during the in-orbit test phase.
• Design and implement satellite re-locations to meet SES business needs, while ensuring safe separation with other satellites, minimizing propellant consumption, and coping with satellite and interference constraints.
• Collaborate with Satellite Engineering to investigate satellite anomalies related to attitude control and propulsion systems.

Qualifications & Experience

• Ability to work under own initiative and without direct supervision
• Capability to autonomously solve and model problems in mathematical and physics fields
• Ability to develop medium scale software applications
• Experience in Python software development is preferred
• Good negotiation and persuasion skills with internal stakeholders
• A mathematical and analytical mind
• Ability to react to contingencies and cope with high stress situations
• Excellent communication skills and team-spirit, as well as good time management and project planning skills
• A willingness to be self-critical and learn from mistakes
• Acts within her or his circle of competence and knows the boundary
• Degree in physics, mathematics, or engineering
• In-depth knowledge in following specialized fields: astrodynamics, tracking systems, orbit estimation methods, orbital control of GEO and MEO satellites
• In-depth knowledge in numerical analysis and scientific software development
• Have a broad and comprehensive knowledge of satellite sub-systems, for example, propulsion and attitude control, and of the ground tracking systems
• Good capability to develop orbital or satellite control software
• Experience in graphical user interface development or test automation is preferred

Other key requirements / comments

1. Key Performance Indicators
   • Satellites within station-keeping box
   • Propellant life optimization
   • Accurate propellant lifetime estimation
   • Minimize risk of collision and interference with other satellites or debris
   • Accurate orbital information to customers
   • Reliable and efficient software meeting user and business requirements

2. Interfaces
   • Collaborate very closely with SES Satellite Control Centers, Ground Infrastructure, Space Engineering, Software Engineering and Customer services departments who support satellite operations, as well as with Frequency Coordination for re-locations.
   • Provide satellite propellant lifetime analysis to internal stakeholders as well as to Insurance Underwriters
   • Interface with US/NORAD and other satellite operators to minimize risk of collision with debris and other satellites
   • Interface with Satellite Manufacturer during software upgrade, satellite procurement and LEOP phase