Mission Control Engineer

Job description

Team & Reporting Line: Flight Operations - Reporting to Lead Satellite Systems

Our Mission 

At constellr, we use thermal intelligence from space to understand what is happening on Earth - where, when and at scale. Our satellite constellation delivers high-resolution land surface temperature data, giving governments, defence organisations, commercial operators and global institutions the intelligence they need to monitor change, assess risk and make better-informed decisions.

From national security and critical infrastructure to agriculture and climate resilience, constellr turns temperature into actionable intelligence for a changing world.

Your Role

As a Mission Control Engineer, you will be central to operating and scaling our Earth Observation satellite constellation. You will monitor, control, and optimise spacecraft performance while working closely with the Flight Operations team and collaborating with Flight Dynamics, Payload, Software, Data, and Product teams across the company.

This role offers the opportunity to build and operate mission control systems from the ground up in a fast-paced startup environment, with direct impact on the reliability, availability, and quality of the data we deliver to customers.

At constellr, you will help shape how our constellation and operations scale, owning critical operational capabilities, influencing system design, and seeing the immediate real-world impact of your work. The role also provides a clear growth path into hands-on satellite operations, with opportunities to take on real-time spacecraft commanding and monitoring responsibilities and contribute directly to mission success in orbit.

Key responsibilities

Core Role

• Build core mission planning services and algorithms that power mission planning applications for a growing satellite constellation

• Shape the architecture and design of mission planning systems to ensure scalability, reliability, and long-term operability

• Run, monitor, and maintain mission planning systems in live production environments

• Define engineering standards for reliability, CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, observability, safety, and operational compliance

• Collaborate across Flight Operations, Flight Dynamics, Payload, Satellite Operations, and Product leadership to turn mission needs into technical direction and system design

• Drive adoption of CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure-as-code, and robust deployment practices across mission-critical systems

• Translate mission requests into executable satellite telecommands, including interaction with the telecommand database

• Align mission plans with onboard scheduling and execution constraints to ensure feasible satellite operations

Optional (If you have this experience) - Involvement in satellite operations, your role will also include:

• Monitor and control spacecraft operations, ensuring the nominal health, safety, and performance of the satellite constellation

• Execute real-time spacecraft commanding, telemetry monitoring, and analysis, responding promptly to off-nominal conditions.

• Develop, validate, and maintain operational procedures for both routine activities and contingency scenarios.

• Collaborate closely with Flight Dynamics and Mission Planning teams to execute mission timelines and scheduling activities.

• Support the commissioning and early operations phases of newly launched satellites.

• Investigate anomalies, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective and preventive actions.

• Ensure high availability and smooth operation of the ground segment, participating in on-call rotations as required.

• Interface with Payload and Data teams to support successful data acquisition, downlink, and processing operations.

• Participate in simulations, rehearsals, and operational readiness reviews to ensure mission preparedness.

Job requirements

About you 

Required: 

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.

• 2–3+ years of experience in satellite/spacecraft operations or in ground segment / Mission Control System development, either on the operations or software side. 

• Solid understanding of spacecraft subsystems (e.g., AOCS, power, thermal, communications). 

• Experience with telemetry analysis, command systems, and operational procedures. 

• Proven ability to troubleshoot anomalies under time pressure using structured and methodical problem-solving approaches. 

• Strong software engineering background, with experience in a systems programming language (ideally Rust, but C, C++, or similar are acceptable; support will be provided to develop Rust expertise).

• Experience developing reliable software for operational environments, with a strong focus on correctness, robustness, and safety. 

• Familiarity with Linux systems and server administration. 

• Knowledge of space industry standards such as CCSDS, ECSS, or PUS (deep expertise not required; familiarity with the ecosystem is sufficient). 

• Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset; ability to work closely with operations teams and the broader Mission Control organisation. 

• Willingness to work in an operational environment, including shifts or on-call duties when required. 

• Experience with monitoring and data infrastructure tools such as Grafana (including IRM), InfluxDB, and PostgreSQL. 

• Genuine interest in working at the intersection of spacecraft operations and modern systems software, with a willingness to deepen expertise in either domain.

• Ability to develop reliable, production-grade software for 24/7 operational environments, with a strong focus on correctness, robustness, and safety.

Nice to Have: 

• Experience with LEO Earth Observation missions. 

• Knowledge of mission planning systems and ground station networks. 

• Experience with SCOS-2000 and Mission Information Base (MIB) configuration. 

• Background in Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) or in-orbit commissioning. 

• Experience working in a startup or fast-scaling environment. 

• Familiarity with cloud-based infrastructure, distributed systems, or data pipelines. 

• Understanding of satellite systems engineering principles. 

• Exposure to or experience with AI-assisted development tools or workflows.

Why join constellr?

• High-Impact National Security Mission: Be part of an ambitious mission to launch the world’s first commercial thermal infrared constellation, delivering sovereign-grade "behavioural" intelligence from space to close critical blind spots for defence, intelligence, and maritime surveillance agencies.
• Fast-Paced "New Space" Innovation: Work at the leading edge of a rapidly evolving defence sector. By leveraging modern, agile New Space methodologies, you will help design, build, and deploy dual-use thermal payloads into operational orbit at a speed and scale that traditional aerospace models simply cannot match.
• Broad Interdisciplinary Exposure: Accelerate your professional growth by collaborating daily with a diverse, international cohort of astrophysicists, software developers, and defence-system engineers.
• Inclusive & Scientific Culture: Join a high-trust team deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and scientific excellence, where academic curiosity is paired with high autonomy and a flat hierarchy.
• Financial Upside & Well-being: Benefit from a Virtual Share Option Plan (VSOP) for permanent employees, giving you a true stake in the company's growth, alongside highly flexible hybrid working models.