Staff Engineer, Constellation Operations

Staff Engineer, Constellation Operations

Seattle, WA

Staff Engineer, Constellation Operations

About Us:

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, providing 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 part of our Constellation Operations Engineering team, your responsibilities span many aspects of the constellation architecture, including satellite systems, ground stations, and ground software. Specifically, you will be trained to operate the satellites while providing recommendations on operations procedure and process improvement from previous space industry experience. In this role, you will help ensure successful on‑orbit satellite commissioning by serving on‑console during launch and early operations activities.

Your efforts to review telemetry and spacecraft logs will lead to anomaly investigation and resolution, as well as execution of 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 begin contributing to a growing repository of software tools designed to streamline operations, reduce human‑error and optimize constellation performance.

The position reports to the Manager, Constellation Operations and supports our Seattle, WA office with a flexibility for hybrid schedule.

• 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 as assigned in Jira.
• Perform daily spacecraft health trending activities, including constellation data review, system log review, imaging performance and ground automation performance.
• Design, manage, and lead operations software tooling development in Python—covering data trending tools, automated constellation performance review, key performance metrics measurement and analysis, among other things.
• Lead operational testing for Flight Software and Ground software before deployment to mission‑critical systems.
• Lead complex evolutions and anomaly responses on console in the Mission Operations Center.
• Support planning and execution of future maintenance activities on the satellite constellation.
• Provide rotational on‑call support and occasional short‑duration 24/7 support, including launch activities and on‑console anomaly support when required.
• Support launch and early operations support activities as assigned.
• Other job‑related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science, or equivalent experience (four additional years of experience).
• At least 10 years of experience in a relevant technical engineering field.
• Experience in an operations environment (aerospace, gas/oil, nuclear, energy, manufacturing, etc).
• Familiarity with satellite systems and the space environment.
• Strong team and inter‑team cooperation and organization skills.
• A strong sense of self‑motivation and ability to work concurrent, independent tasks.
• Comfort working in mission‑critical environments and making risk‑based decisions.
• The program…