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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Interstellar Operator

💰 $ - $

AerospaceMission OperationsSpacecraft Operations

🎯 Role Definition

The Interstellar Operator is a mission-operations specialist responsible for the real-time command, control, and health monitoring of spacecraft and payloads. You will execute and validate command sequences, analyze telemetry and system logs, coordinate orbit and attitude maneuvers with flight dynamics, and lead anomaly investigations with engineering teams. This role requires precise operational discipline, clear handovers, and continuous improvement of procedures and automation to support safe, on-time mission objectives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Satellite/Ground Station Technician
  • Flight Operations Specialist / Junior Mission Controller
  • Aerospace Systems Engineer (operations-focused)

Advancement To:

  • Lead Mission Operator / Flight Director
  • Mission Operations Manager
  • Mission Systems Engineer / Payload Operations Lead

Lateral Moves:

  • Flight Dynamics Analyst
  • Ground Segment Engineering
  • Test & Integration Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Monitor spacecraft and payload telemetry continuously during operations windows, identify deviations from nominal parameters, and initiate immediate corrective actions while documenting all findings in the mission log for traceability and compliance with SOPs.
  • Build, validate, and execute uplink command sequences (telecommands) and ensure safe sequencing, timing constraints, and interlock verification prior to transmission to the spacecraft through the ground segment.
  • Generate downlink data processing checks, validate telemetry parsing and health reports, and coordinate with data engineering to ensure integrity of stored science and housekeeping datasets.
  • Lead anomaly detection and first-response troubleshooting: triage alerts, perform root-cause analysis with engineering teams, create anomaly reports (IMRs/ASRs), and track incident resolution through to closure.
  • Coordinate orbital maneuvers and station-keeping activities with flight dynamics and GN&C engineers, including maneuver plan validation, constraint analysis, and post-maneuver telemetry assessment.
  • Perform attitude control and pointing operations for science payloads, including pointing model updates, star tracker health checks, and coordination of slews and acquisitions with science teams.
  • Prepare and maintain daily and weekly operations timelines, contact schedules, and mission calendars; manage ground-station contacts (S-band/X-band/Ka-band) and uplink/downlink windows across multiple stations.
  • Validate and test spacecraft software builds and patches in the operations simulation environment, run end-to-end verification, and sign off flight software releases in coordination with configuration management.
  • Execute and document routine and non-routine procedures (SOPs) for contingency operations such as safehold, battery management, thermal mitigation, and communications loss recovery.
  • Develop and maintain automated operational scripts and tools (Python, Bash) to accelerate routine checks, telemetry trending, batch-command generation, and log parsing for faster decision-making.
  • Support mission planning by integrating payload requirements, science observation schedules, and resource constraints to produce conflict-free command timelines and uplink packages.
  • Maintain strict configuration control of command databases, flight rules, and operational checklists; review and approve change requests impacting on-orbit behavior or ground systems.
  • Perform end-of-shift handovers with concise briefings and written logs that capture spacecraft state, outstanding issues, upcoming activities, and any operational risks to ensure continuity between shifts.
  • Lead mission rehearsals, operational readiness reviews (ORRs), and combined-systems tests with cross-functional teams to validate procedures and stakeholder communication channels.
  • Communicate status, risks, and mitigation plans to program leadership, payload owners, and external partners; produce concise operational reports and briefings for management and customers.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to help science and engineering teams interpret telemetry trends and sensor performance.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap by recommending telemetry retention policies, data quality checks, and processing pipelines for long-term mission science value.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements for ground segment and mission software upgrades.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team to prioritize operational tooling, telemetry parsers, and automation tasks.
  • Coordinate with international ground-station networks, commercial providers, and regulatory authorities for scheduling, licensing (FCC/ITU), and export-control compliance (ITAR/EAR).
  • Train and mentor junior operators, develop training curricula, and maintain simulation scenarios and runbooks for operator onboarding and certification.
  • Maintain and audit mission logs, telemetry archives, and change-request backlogs to support auditability, post-mission analysis, and lessons-learned activities.
  • Contribute to risk assessments, safety reviews, and operational hazard analyses to reduce probability of mission-impacting events and enhance SLA performance.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Telemetry & Telecommand (TM/TC) operations: experience constructing, validating, and uplinking command sequences and verifying telemetry ingestion.
  • Spacecraft subsystems knowledge: ADCS (attitude determination & control), EPS (electrical power systems), thermal control, communications, and payload interfaces.
  • Flight dynamics & orbital mechanics: understanding of orbit determination, stationkeeping maneuvers, delta-v planning, and covariance implications on operations.
  • Ground-segment operations: experience with networked ground stations, RF link budgeting, scheduling contacts, and managing X/S/Ka-band chains.
  • Real-time mission control tools: familiarity with mission control systems (MCS), SCOS-2000, COSMOS, TANGO, Flight Software simulators, or custom ops consoles.
  • Scripting & automation: proficient in Python, Bash, or Perl to create automation, telemetry parsers, command generators, and operational tooling.
  • Data handling & analysis: experience with telemetry databases, CSV/JSON parsing, SQL, and basic data visualization to trend spacecraft health.
  • Protocols & standards: working knowledge of CCSDS standards, TM/TC framing, and time synchronization (UTC/TDB) practices.
  • Testing & validation: experience in operations-level integrated test, end-to-end verification, and software-in-the-loop/hardware-in-the-loop simulations.
  • Configuration & release management: experience with version control (Git), change control boards, and operational baseline maintenance.
  • Safety & compliance: familiarity with mission safety practices, export controls (ITAR/EAR), and telemetry data security best practices.
  • Instrument/payload operations: understanding of payload commanding, data downlink prioritization, and science observation scheduling.
  • Linux systems and networking: manage mission servers, automate monitoring, and analyze logs in Unix-like environments.
  • Familiarity with remote telemetry formats and data processing pipelines including CCSDS, TM/TC standards, and telemetry decompression/packetization methods.

Soft Skills

  • Clear and concise written and verbal communication for shift handovers, briefings, and cross-functional coordination.
  • Rapid problem-solving and structured troubleshooting under operational pressure with strong attention to detail.
  • Team collaboration across engineering, flight dynamics, payload science, and external vendors.
  • Situational awareness and decision-making during off-nominal events and emergencies.
  • Time management and prioritization across overlapping operations windows and mission milestones.
  • Mentoring and training aptitude to upskill less experienced operators and maintain team readiness.
  • Adaptability to evolving mission requirements and novel operational scenarios.
  • Customer-focused mindset when responding to payload teams, stakeholders, and external partners.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a closely related technical discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Space Systems, Systems Engineering, or equivalent operational experience and certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Electrical/Electronic Engineering
  • Computer Science / Software Engineering
  • Physics / Astrophysics
  • Systems Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2 - 6 years in spacecraft operations, ground segment, mission control, or related aerospace roles.

Preferred:

  • 3+ years of hands-on mission operations or satellite commanding, with demonstrated experience in telemetry analysis, command sequence generation, and anomaly resolution.
  • Experience with multi-station ground networks, international partners, or commercial satellite constellations is highly desirable.
  • Prior experience participating in mission rehearsals, operational readiness reviews, and end-to-end verification campaigns.

Additional preferences: security clearance where required, familiarity with export controls (ITAR/EAR), and demonstrated scripting/automation projects that improved operational efficiency.

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