Senior Engineer, Mission Planning

Role overview

This senior engineering role focuses on developing and maintaining autonomous mission planning capabilities for a satellite imaging constellation. The position sits on an integrated product team that collaborates with ground software, operations, and product engineering to translate mission concepts into optimized on-orbit tasking. The work spans algorithm design, requirements definition, and prototype code to keep planning software effective and responsive to operational demands.

Responsibilities

- Develop and track system-level and software requirements for mission planning products and shepherd them through to on-orbit operation - Model, implement, and test concepts of operation for autonomous planning of imaging, calibration, propulsion, and other constellation activities, building on heritage or novel algorithms as needed - Model satellite subsystems (communications, power, attitude) in ways compatible with existing and future ground and control software - Write prototype code in Python or Go and build internal tooling to measure KPIs, troubleshoot performance, and surface planning inefficiencies - Translate product concepts into engineering requirements and facilitate review and discussion across engineering, product, and software stakeholders - Serve as a mission planning subject matter expert supporting ongoing constellation operations and customer fulfillment, with occasional 24/7 on-call support during launch, early operations, and anomaly response

Requirements

- Bachelor's or Master's degree (or higher) in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, systems engineering, computer science, or an equivalent field - At least six years of relevant professional experience - Hands-on experience automating complex systems such as satellite constellations, drone fleets, vehicle fleets, or logistics networks - Practical experience with planning or optimization algorithms, including a solid grasp of their inputs, outputs, and constraints - Working knowledge of Go or Python, plus a foundation in software design, data structures, algorithm efficiency, and maintainable, scalable code - Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to manage several concurrent, independent activities - US citizenship is required due to applicable space technology export regulations

Nice to have

- Deep expertise in satellite or aerial imaging mission planning, including point targets, strip mapping, pushbroom, whiskbroom, wide-area capture, or stereo capture - Fluency with orbital mechanics, attitude dynamics, and satellite first principles - Experience with integer or linear program solvers - Background in modelling and simulation projects - Embedded systems experience on spacecraft or other autonomous vehicles

Benefits and work setup

- Offices in Herndon, VA and Seattle, WA, with remote candidates also considered - Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, plus voluntary life and AD&D coverage, with employer-paid employee premiums for medical, dental, and vision and a monthly out-of-pocket contribution - 15 days of PTO, 11 company holidays, four floating holidays prorated by hire date, one paid volunteer day per year, and parental leave - 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match, flexible spending accounts, and an employee stock purchase program - Employee assistance and travel assistance programs, employer-matched donations, and professional development support - Choice of Mac or PC hardware - Anticipated compensation range for the posted level in Seattle, WA is approximately $120,000–$145,000 per year, with final offer dependent on background and education