Payload Operations Engineer

Location: Lanham, Maryland, United States

Department: Mission Operations

Position Overview

We are seeking a Payload Operations Engineer responsible for performing all activities required to operate AST satellite payload subsystems in support of constellation service and in‑orbit testing. This is a day‑staff shift position supporting each AST Satellite Operations Center (SOC), with occasional weekend, holiday, and on‑call support to ensure 24×7 payload coverage.

Key Responsibilities

• Support development of payload operations tools to enable efficient and automated payload tasks.
• Operate payload tools to generate configuration items required for in‑orbit testing (IOT) and commercial service.
• Monitor automated service/testing processes and analyze results through telemetry and log evaluation.
• Coordinate payload system configuration changes to maintain commercial service levels.
• Collaborate with tool developers to implement functionality updates and payload software improvements.
• Troubleshoot issues in coordination with SOC, Network Operations Center (NOC), and subsystem engineering teams.
• Monitor and process payload subsystem telemetry to maintain state of health, including power, thermal, and RF performance.
• Maintain situational awareness of satellite, payload, and ground segment configuration and status.
• Operate SOC operations software tools and support development of automated operational tools.
• Participate in daily shift handover briefings.
• Support mission product development including procedure creation, testing, and validation.
• Contribute to system readiness activities, planning, and preparation for satellite in‑orbit milestones.
• Attend required training sessions, simulations, rehearsals, conferences, and program reviews.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field.

Experience

A minimum of 0–2 years of engineering or relevant technical experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience and/or a Master’s degree.
• Experience working with satellite communication payloads.
• Multi‑satellite LEO constellation operations experience.
• Demonstrated ability to define or refine concepts of operations (ConOps).
• Familiarity with version control software, preferably Git.
• Experience with Atlassian tools such as Jira and Confluence.
• Programming experience in at least one modern language (Java, Python, MATLAB, C, etc.).

Soft Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across cross‑functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy of documentation, telemetry assessment, and operational deliverables.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in an environment with rapidly evolving system requirements.

Technology Stack

• Engineering analysis tools
• Payload operations software and SOC automation tools
• Version control systems (Git preferred)
• Atlassian suite (Jira, Confluence)
• Programming languages: Java, Python, MATLAB, C, or similar

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a standard office or operations center environment.
• Ability to use a computer and operations consoles for extended periods.
• Ability to support occasional shift work, including weekends, holidays, and on‑call rotations as required for 24×7 support.

This job description may not be inclusive to the duties and responsibilities listed. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time or the scope of the job may change as needed by business demands.