Mission Design Engineer

at  Spire Global

We improve life on Earth with data from space.
Spire Global is a space-to-cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi-purpose constellation of satellites. Its proprietary data and algorithms provide the most advanced maritime, aviation, and weather tracking in the world. In addition to its constellation, Spire’s data infrastructure includes a global ground station network and 24/7 operations that provide real-time global coverage of every point on Earth.
As a mission design engineer, you will be responsible of evaluating the trade-offs that will shape the future of Spire satellites and constellations.
You will be part of the mission design team, which helps with constellation-level system design. The team is also responsible for developing constellation simulation tools, including payload models, coverage and revisit time modeling, latency modeling, ground-station contact analysis, inter-satellite link analysis, data budgets, power model, etc.
You’ll have the opportunity to make a real impact to Spire by participating on the design of key missions for the future of Spire, with ever-increasing complexity and product requirements. You’ll move fast, iterate quickly, and solve global problems. You might be the right fit if you love exciting technical challenges, hate getting bored, and enjoy collaborating with engineers who are changing the way the world thinks about space, satellites, and data.

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE:

• Degree in science, engineering, or math
• Strong programming experience (Python preferred)
• Experience using models in the real world and performing model validations, using real telemetry or sensor data
• Experience modelling physical systems and processes
• Basic data analytics and data processing to parse and visualize model outputs
• Good working knowledge of spacecraft orbital dynamics
• Demonstrated experience with LEO constellation modelling

STRONG CANDIDATES WILL ALSO POSSESS SKILLS IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS:

• Demonstrated experience with satellite communications systems
• Basic working knowledge of communications systems engineering (e.g. link budgets)
• Experience using aerospace modelling tools (e.g. STK, Matlab/Simulink)
• Basic machine learning and data science skills
• Well-versed in Linux and git
  Spire is Global and our success draws upon the diverse viewpoints, skills and experiences of our employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.
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• Design and trade off various constellation architectures to select optimal topologies
• Perform power analysis, coverage and revisit time analysis, propulsion sizing, latency analysis, data budgets and other mission design studies.
• Leverage existing in-house tools and industry-standard constellation simulation tools (e.g. STK)
• Extend the capabilities of in-house constellation, spacecraft, and subsystem simulation tools, including payload models, coverage and revisit time modeling, latency modeling, ground-station contact analysis, inter-satellite link analysis, data budgets etc.
• Coordinate with spacecraft and constellation software teams to build accurate models of subsystems and processes