The Flight Operations (FLO) Division is tasked with conducting spacecraft flight operations and supporting the development of future missions, including flight dynamics and mission analysis activities. This post is for the role of Flight Dynamics engineer in the Flight Dynamics & Mission Analysis team in FLO.

The post holder is responsible for, and contributes to, the flight dynamics and mission analysis aspects of system development and operations preparation, validation and routine operations of current and future missions. She/he participates in the engineering, operations and maintenance of Flight Dynamics operational systems for current low Earth orbit satellites, as well as support the development of future missions.

Duties

• Provide mission analysis support to early mission feasibility and definition phases;
• Provide flight dynamics support to system requirements specifications and operations concept definitions;
• Provide flight dynamics support to flight dynamics facility and conjunction management requirement specifications, procurements, development and verification phases;
• Provide flight dynamics support to the definition, operations preparation and execution of pre-launch Satellite System Verification Testing (SSVT), Launch & Early Orbit Phase (LEOP), Satellite In-orbit Verification (SIOV), and System Commissioning activities for new and recurrent satellites;
• Perform flight dynamics activities in support of routine, special, contingency and end of life/disposal operations of LEO satellites, including: determination of satellites’ attitude and orbit; generation of flight dynamics products for onboard and ground segment use;

maintenance of the operational orbits through implementation of manoeuvres; monitoring, management and, where necessary, mitigation of collision risks; satellite housekeeping activities such as sensor and actuator maintenance; evaluation of satellite performance, including fuel lifetimes; satellite anomaly investigation and resolution;

• Provide flight dynamics support to the maintenance, re-engineering and enhancement of ground segments and flight dynamics facilities, including: anomaly investigation and resolution; optimisation and enhancement of Flight Dynamics functionality, performance, efficiency and robustness; removal of system obsolescence; specification, development, integration and acceptance of system evolutions;
• Ensure readiness of operational flight dynamics and conjunction management systems, and related engineering team personnel, for introduction of recurrent satellites within existing missions.

Skills and Experience

• In-depth knowledge of space flight mechanics, covering both orbit and attitude dynamics, for Earth-orbiting spacecraft;
• Proven professional experience in operations and maintenance of Earth Observation LEO space flight dynamics systems;
• Knowledge of system engineering standards and methodologies in aspects relevant to space operational systems;
• Familiarity with software libraries and tools specific for flight dynamics & mission analysis of LEO satellites (e.g. NAPEOS, Orekit, Godot);
• Familiarity with Linux systems and programming languages with focus on mathematical applications (e.g. Java, Python, MatLab);
• Strengths in analysis, synthesis and presentation, coupled with very good interpersonal skills and a proven ability to apply these to the interactions within a team and between teams.