SPOC Engineer

Inmarsat Government is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Viasat, Inc., responsible for the organization’s leadership position in the U.S. government market. It is headquartered in Reston, VA, with network assets and operations around the globe. Inmarsat Government provides its services and products in accordance with a system that is registered to ISO 9001:2015.  Inmarsat Government, a Viasat, company continues to deliver the world’s most advanced global, mobile satellite communication services to U.S. defense, intelligence, homeland security, public safety and civilian agencies, with highly reliable, secure and affordable connectivity.

Built with government users in mind, Inmarsat Government solutions provide resilient, flexible capabilities to complement government satellite resources, anytime, anywhere. Leveraging an industry-leading scalable, multi-band network infrastructure, Inmarsat Government offers a suite of managed network services and end-to-end communication solutions to support users on land, at sea and in the air, even in the world’s most remote regions.

Primary purpose of the position:

The SPOC Engineer is responsible for the Secure Payload Operations Center and daily operations of the payloads and associated ground stations. The SPOC Engineer is responsible for managing all SPOC activities performed during the operating shift environment. These activities may be under guidance or instruction from management/support personnel or conducted directly by the individual and will include routine on-station operational tasks on the satellites and Ground Control System (GCS), special activities in response to non-nominal conditions, off-line support functions, together with first level trouble shooting and anomaly resolution of the satellites and GCS.

The Inmarsat Government SPOC is a highly automated environment, and the emphasis of the SPOC Payload Controller function is based on supervision of executing automated procedures rather than in their manual execution. However, comprehension and understanding of what each script is executing for both space and ground components is still critical. This position requires the staff member to perform regular satellite operations and to respond quickly at any time of the day or night to operational anomalies arising in the payload or ground control system. The SPOC Engineer is expected to exercise all operations in a professional and disciplined manner, executing routine procedures to the letter. The SPOC Engineer is expected to execute their day-to-day responsibilities from the Reston HQ, as well as provide rotating on-call support in addition to shift coverage.

Key responsibilities of the position:

• System Development responsibilities include.

- Establishing the real time control environment at the SPOC

- Validating procedure in a development environment that includes the payload simulator

- Executing the intersegment validation of the SPOC

- Participating in the intersegment validation events between the SPOC, Satellite Access Sites, London SCC, and external NOC(s).

- Develop and mature standard operating procedures and tools

- Maintain proficiency of payload and ground operating systems and tasks

- Identify, evaluate, and analyze various anomaly conditions and use logical reasoning to resolve

• On a shift working basis, be responsible for ensuring that SPOC in-orbit payloads and associated Ground Control System are maintained in an operational status by:

- Monitoring the satellites and Ground Control System to verify operational status and to detect and report anomalous conditions that could adversely affect operations.

- Executing scheduled commands on spacecraft and GCS according to procedure, operational notes, and daily activity schedule.

- Taking effective actions, within given procedures, guidelines or specific instructions, to eliminate or minimize the effect of anomalous conditions on the satellites and GCS.

- Operating Satellite Control Center (SCC) equipment, I4S computer systems and Ground Control System (GCS) remote tools according to procedures, work practices, or user guides.

- Working in a highly automated environment the emphasis of the SCC Spacecraft Controller function is placed on the supervision of executing automated procedures rather than in their manual execution.

• To assist spacecraft and flight dynamics analyst staff in investigations and data gathering in response to routine, anomalous or non-routine events on the satellites or ground equipment infrastructure. This includes being part of an “incident team” during contingency operations.
• Participate in regular spacecraft training and simulation sessions.
• Maintain an accurate record of all SPOC and GCS activities in electronic logbooks.
• Provide support to both external and in-house hardware and software support groups as required to troubleshoot or test the ground system.
• Provide with support in writing and testing I4S automated procedures.
• Provide the Spacecraft (S/C) Analyst Group with support in writing satellite health and performance reports.
• To liaise with all remote TT&C Station personnel, supporting engineering groups, contractors/vendors and other relevant personnel in ensuring that real-time activities conducted by them, or with them, are in accordance with operational requirements and authorizations.
• To coordinate with the Network Operations Center (NOC) on all matters affecting the payload of the satellites, together with areas of the GCS which are of mutual utilization.
• To liaise with members of SPOC Operations management, Spacecraft Analysis, or Flight Dynamics in all relevant matters, including real-time and off-line activities and tasks.

Essential knowledge and skills:

• Completed (or are pursuing) a BS in a related (electrical, systems, computer, aerospace, etc.) engineering discipline
• 5 years’ experience working in an operations environment

Required knowledge and skills:

• Proficiency in Windows and Linux operating systems
• Previous experience of satellite operations and satellite control systems.
• Previous experience in satellite communications payloads and performance budgets. Familiarity with Transponded link budgets, G/T budgets, EIRP Budgets, Gain Loss Budgets, and Complex Channelization plans.

Required Security Clearance:

• TS Collateral Clearance required.
• Willingness/ability to obtain TS/SCI once hired is required, if you don’t already have one.