Senior Payload Data Operator

External Job Description

FADA is seeking a Senior Payload Data Processing Engineer to design, develop, and operate processing chains that transform raw satellite payload data into calibrated, analysis-ready products. The role covers the full downstream processing chain, from Level-0 ingestion through Level-1 and Level-2 products.

The successful candidate will have hands-on experience with both Electro-Optical (EO) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payloads and will work closely with satellite operations teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Define EO product specifications with end users, mission engineers, and stakeholders to meet mission objectives.
• Translate user and mission requirements into processing specifications, product formats, and metadata standards.
• Act as the technical interface between payload processing, satellite operations, and system engineering teams.
• Design, develop, and maintain processing pipelines from raw data ingestion through Level-0, Level-1, and Level-2 products.
• Implement optical image processing algorithms, including registration, georeferencing, orthorectification, radiometric and atmospheric correction, cloud masking, classification, and derived products.
• Integrate workflows into scalable, automated processing systems with defined throughput and latency targets.
• Support multi-payload and multi-sensor operations across different platforms and data sources.
• Continuously improve processing chains through the evaluation of new algorithms, tools, and techniques.
• Contribute to payload characterization, calibration, and validation (Cal/Val) activities.
• Collaborate with satellite operations teams to improve product quality throughout the acquisition-to-delivery cycle.
• Lead investigations into data chain anomalies and drive issues to resolution across payload, downlink, ingestion, and processing stages.
• Provide technical guidance to junior engineers and represent FADA in engagements with suppliers, vendors, and partners.
  
  

• 5-8 years of experience in satellite payload data processing, with responsibility for processing chains, algorithms, or product lines.
• Hands-on experience processing optical EO data, including calibration, correction, and product generation.
• Hands-on experience processing SAR data, including focusing raw data into Level-1 image products.
• Experience developing, validating, commissioning, and operating payload data processing systems.
  
  

• Strong knowledge of remote sensing principles and optical and radar image processing.
• Familiarity with geospatial data structures, coordinate systems, projections, and standards such as GeoTIFF, STAC, and OGC services.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent technical communication, and the ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary operational environments