Satcom Mission Analysis Engineer Verified today

The role

The Satcom team delivers the design, performance and operation of Open Cosmos' satellite communications services across the space segment, ground infrastructure and global connectivity.

As Satcom Mission Analysis Engineer, you will define, optimise, and maintain the orbital architecture that keeps our satellite constellation performing at its best. You will model the astrodynamics, inter-satellite link behaviour, and manoeuvre strategies that translate orbital mechanics into reliable, high-performance connectivity across the network's entire lifecycle.

What you will do

• Define, optimise, and maintain the precise orbital architecture of the constellation over its lifespan
• Run continuous topology analysis to ensure satellite distribution mathematically supports network capacity requirements
• Model the integration of future constellation phases, calculating how new orbital shells interact with existing infrastructure
• Calculate pointing, acquisition, and tracking (PAT) slew rates required to maintain line-of-sight for optical Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs), especially during cross-plane orbital intersections
• Analyse astrodynamic perturbations such as atmospheric drag and solar radiation pressure and their impact on laser pointing accuracy and optical link stability
• Calculate and deliver slant range and Doppler shift profiles to RF and Waveform engineering teams for physical layer optimisation
• Calculate revisit times, elevation angles, and line-of-sight durations to guarantee SLA-backed coverage for User Terminals
• Model complex operational environments including terrain masking, maritime use cases, and high-latitude regions, ensuring continuity during satellite-to-satellite handovers
• Work closely with the Network Routing team to simulate how orbital geometry dictates latency and jitter for clients
• Design maneuver strategies to maintain constellation geometry, sizing Delta-V budgets for orbit insertion, station-keeping, and end-of-life de-orbiting
• Develop operational concepts for automated Collision Avoidance (COLA) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA)
• Ensure orbital lifecycle and de-orbiting strategies comply with international space debris mitigation guidelines and ITU regulatory milestones
• Build and maintain core astrodynamics simulation environments
• Develop custom code within the software team's routing simulators and broader Digital Twin

What you will bring

• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, constellation design, phasing strategies, and orbital perturbations
• Capability to model and analyse satellite constellations including topology evolution and multi-orbit integration
• Proficiency in mission analysis and simulation tools using Orekit and STK with ability to develop custom models or automation scripts
• Understanding of inter-satellite link dynamics, including line-of-sight constraints, pointing, acquisition, and tracking considerations
• Knowledge of how orbital parameters such as slant range, elevation angle, and Doppler shift translate into telecommunications performance metrics
• Familiarity with coverage analysis, including revisit times, visibility windows, and service continuity across diverse environments
• Understanding of manoeuvre planning, including Delta-V budgeting, station-keeping, and end-of-life strategies
• Knowledge of collision avoidance principles and space situational awareness considerations
• Awareness of regulatory frameworks related to orbital operations, spectrum allocation, and space debris mitigation
• Capability to integrate astrodynamics models into broader system simulations or digital twin environments
• Analytical and systems-level approach to problem-solving, connecting physical models with real-world operational and network performance outcomes

Location

This role is based at any of Open Cosmos' locations. You must have the legal right to work in your chosen location. Please submit your CV in English when applying.