Senior Mission Operations Engineer(UK Visa Sponsorship)

Job Description

Overview

Astroscale UK is seeking a highly skilled Senior Mission Operations Engineer to strengthen our growing team in Harwell. This role provides a rare opportunity to work across all mission phases for programmes such as ELSA-M and COSMIC, supporting both current and future in-orbit servicing missions.

Unlike traditional operations roles that split responsibilities between controllers, analysts, mission managers and preparation engineers, this post offers wide-ranging involvement—ideal for professionals ready to advance into a more technical, strategic and mission-shaping position.

What You’ll Be Doing

Operational Leadership

• Serve as a technical lead across missions and internal projects.
• Mentor and support junior team members through collaborative project work.
• Spacecraft Operations
• Conduct routine and critical real-time spacecraft operations following standard procedures.
• Take on rotating roles including Mission Manager, Spacecraft Operator, SOE and Mission Planner to maintain operational resilience across the team.
• Operational Development & Tools
• Identify, design and implement operational tools to enhance safety and efficiency.
• Build and maintain mission procedures, validation tests, operations scripts and supporting documentation.

Mission Planning & Support

• Contribute to operational preparation activities, including operations concepts, FDIR processes, system-level reviews (PDR/ CDR/ ORR) and requirements engineering.
• Support feasibility studies, early-phase mission planning and Space Situational Awareness collaborations with academic, industrial and government partners.

Analysis & Continuous Improvement

• Lead anomaly investigations and provide performance trend monitoring at system and subsystem level.
• Propose innovative operational concepts enabling a small team to manage multiple spacecraft with minimal overhead.

Training & Rehearsals

• Assist in development and execution of mission rehearsals, SATSIM campaigns and operator training programmes.
• On-Site Support
• Work a mainly standard Monday–Friday schedule, with occasional extended hours, on-site MCC presence and 24/7 shift rotations during critical mission phases.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in an engineering or related STEM discipline.
• 5–10+ years satellite industry experience, ideally involving real-time flight operations for LEO missions.
• Strong understanding of spacecraft subsystems such as AOCS/GNC and OBDH.
• Experience with mission control systems, configuration management, mission planning and procedure development.
• Skilled in performance monitoring, anomaly resolution and root-cause analysis.
• Able to work effectively under pressure and perform with precision in high-stress scenarios.
• Independent, detail-oriented and confident innovating new operational methods.
• Proficient English communication skills (CEFR B2 / TOEIC 700+).

Desired Skills

• Familiarity with SCOS-2000 mission control systems.
• Experience with formation flying or proximity operations.
• Knowledge of ECSS standards for ground systems and operations.
• Understanding of orbital mechanics and flight dynamics.
• Background in systems engineering principles.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package.
• Hybrid working options and flexible hours around core periods.
• Optional 9/75 working pattern.
• 25–28 days holiday + 8 bank holidays.
• Private medical cover, life insurance and long-term sick pay.
• Relocation allowance and visa sponsorship where appropriate.
• Brand-new state-of-the-art office and cleanroom.
• Regular social and professional development events.

About Astroscale

Astroscale is the first commercial organisation built around the vision of sustainable space operations, focusing on in-orbit servicing, active debris removal, satellite life extension, and future safeguarding of space environments. Our team is international, multidisciplinary and driven by the mission to make orbital stewardship a global norm by 2030.

We promote equality, diversity and inclusion across all hiring and employment practices.