Payload Operations Engineer

About constellr

We are operating at the interface of climate tech, agriculture, and space, combining engineering, Earth Observation, and agronomy to address one of the biggest challenges of our time: how to ensure global food security! 

With offices in Brussels, Freiburg, Munich, and Toulouse, we are a diverse team, comprised of highly motivated and passionate professionals who share a common vision to revolutionize decision-making in tomorrow’s smart farming industry. 

Our Mission

constellr is at the forefront of precise temperature monitoring from space. Our technology delivers the market's most accurate and dependable thermal data with our Land Surface Temperature model excelling in precisely measuring temperature for organizations that depend on highly accurate insights. Join us in advancing impactful initiatives, particularly in agriculture, where our expertise contributes to transformative projects in global food production.

The Role

• Collaborate directly with the satellite to design, test, and implement robust operational procedures. 

• Enhance the satellite’s onboard Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) and autonomy systems to ensure greater resilience and performance. 

• Advance the FDIR and autonomous functionalities within the satellite commanding software to support intelligent mission operations. 

• Develop and optimize tools for ground-based and in-flight testing, including automation frameworks, to elevate the reliability and efficiency of satellite command execution. 

Location – Our Mission Operations Team are based mainly in Germany & Europe – for this position, you will be based in Germany, with a remote working option. 

About you

• Solid understanding of common communication protocols across various layers of the stack (e.g., CCSDS, CSP). 

• Experience with satellite commanding systems and procedures. 

• Familiarity with satellite operations, including both onboard and ground-based Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) processes, is highly advantageous. 

• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Bash and Lua is preferred; strong Python programming skills are essential. 

• Experience with Java, C, or C++ is a valuable asset. 

Why constellr?

• Join a fast-growing, diverse and motivated team with a strong drive for positive change

• Autonomy to set and deliver against your own goals, develop new skills and capabilities, and lead others to do the same.  

• Directly influence your contribution to achieving several of the UN's sustainable development goals, including Zero Hunger, Clean Water, No Poverty and Climate Action  

• Be part of a multi-disciplinary, and diverse team with a strong desire to change the world. 

• Be a formative part of the team delivering the world’s first commercial infrared constellation into orbit, enabling an unprecedented understanding of our planet and its resources.

Our Benefits

• An attractive virtual shares package (Virtual Share Option Program)

• A company pension scheme (bAV) in cooperation with WWK Lebensversicherung (20% subsidy) for German employees

• Flexible working: we support remote or semi-remote working for many of our roles

• Work-life balance: we value everyone’s time and respect family or personal commitments. We support you to be as productive as you can in the time you have

• Lovely offices in Brussels situated between the attractive Etterbeek and Watermael districts; in Freiburg, southwest Germany, bordering the Black Forest, France and Switzerland; a brand-new office in central Munich, a stone’s throw from the beautiful German Alps and lakes and soon we are opening our office at the heart of Toulouse’s aerospace cluster and the thriving Occitania food and drink scene.

At constellr, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and believe that diversity fuels innovation, creativity, and the ability to tackle complex challenges effectively. We encourage individuals from all walks of life to join us on our mission to reduce global food insecurity.