Senior Associate - Satellite Operations

External Job Description

FADA is seeking a Sr Associate, Satellite Operations to join our satellite operations team. The candidate will support the commanding, controlling and health monitoring of our satellites on orbit under the guidance of senior operations engineers. This is a hands-on, entry-level role suited to a recent graduate looking to build a career in satellite operations. The successful candidate will support daily pass operations, assist in anomaly investigations and grow into an independent operator across all mission phases. The role involves regular international travel to ground station sites, partner facilities and training programmes.

Responsibilities

• Support the execution of mission plans and monitor satellite health during routine and critical mission phases.
• Conduct daily pass operations including pre-pass preparation, real-time monitoring, and post-pass reporting and logging.
• Work with the mission ground segment team on planning inputs, pass scheduling and verification of successful data acquisition.
• Execute validated operational procedures for routine operations, and propose improvements based on operational experience.
• Maintain operations logs, shift handover records, anomaly reports and configuration records.
• Support the upkeep of mission documentation including operations plans and operations manuals.
• Participate in readiness campaigns, simulations, rehearsals and commissioning activities.
• Assist senior engineers in anomaly investigation, trend analysis and telemetry review.
• Travel internationally to ground station sites, partner and supplier facilities and partake in external training courses.
• Participate in shift coverage during critical mission phases and contribute to the team's on-call rotation.
  
  

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

• 0–2 years of experience; internships, graduate placements, university satellite projects or CubeSat programmes are advantageous.
• Exposure to real-time operations or control room environments is desirable.
• Familiarity with mission control system concepts including telemetry monitoring, command execution and mission planning.
  
  

• Foundational understanding of orbital mechanics.
• Interest in Earth Observation missions, including payload operations, tasking workflows and data acquisition constraints.
• Scripting or automation ability for telemetry analysis and procedure support.
• Strong attention to detail, operational discipline, clear written and verbal communication, and willingness to work in structured, time-critical environments.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally.