Engineer, Constellation Operations Seattle, WA

Overview

Black Sky 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. Black Sky 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.

Black Sky'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 span satellite systems, ground stations, and ground software. You will train to operate the satellites while providing recommendations on operations procedures and process improvements from prior space industry experience. You will help ensure successful on-orbit satellite commissioning by serving on-console during launch and early operations activities, review telemetry and spacecraft logs to investigate and resolve anomalies, and execute 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 contribute 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 hybrid schedule flexibility.

• Rapidly learn our Constellation architecture, including spacecraft bus, flight software, ground network and ground control software through Black Sky'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, and execute Bench Testing and Maintenance tickets 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, including data trending tools, automated constellation performance review, and key performance metrics analysis.
• 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 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.

• Bachelor’s in Aerospace, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, 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.
• Strong teamwork and inter-team cooperation and organizational skills.
• Self-motivation and ability to work on concurrent tasks.
• Comfort working in mission-critical environments and making risk-based decisions.
• Program requires being a US-born citizen.

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

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D…