Flight Payload Engineer

Mission and Operations

                                        Flight Payload Engineer (m/f/d) - Flight Application Engineering team

About Satellogic

Satellogic is a vertically integrated Earth Observation satellite and data company. We design, manufacture, and operate our own fleet of satellites, the Aleph-1 constellation, which delivers high-frequency, high-resolution imagery plus full-motion video.

Earth Observation imagery and data are key to monitoring change at scale, informing critical decisions, and ultimately helping solve the world’s most pressing problems. Our mission is to democratize access to this information, making it affordable and available for those who need it across a wide range of industries, from climate monitoring and agriculture, to energy,  infrastructure and many more. We want to do our part in building a world where every organization is prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

About the team

The Mission and Operations (M&O) team is responsible for the in-orbit operations of the company’s satellite constellation. We oversee the entire operation from launch, commissioning, day-to-day operations, and decommissioning of the satellites. For day-to-day operations, we provide user interfaces to request data (imagery, experiments, etc.) and we handle the planning optimization , collection and download of the requested data. On top of that, we make sure that our satellites are in the correct orbits, out of collision courses, healthy, and up-to-date with the latest software upgrades coming from the engineering teams. 

Within M&O, the Flight Application Engineering team (FAE) is is the second level of support to the daily operations and the guardians of the fleet availability and capacity, responsible to maximize satellite constellation availability and reliability by means of maintenance, troubleshooting, upgrades, and constant monitoring of the satellites health and performance. To do so, the team develops and executes maintenance procedures and automatic monitoring software systems. Also, the team supports the commissioning of new satellites after every launch. and the execution of in-orbit testing of new features.

About the position

As a Flight Payload Engineer, you will be part of the Flight Application Engineering Team, focusing on the performance, calibration, and optimization of the satellite’s primary and secondary payloads. You will act as the expert second-level support for complex payload-related issues, ensuring high availability and data quality across the entire fleet.

In this role, you will define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and throughput metrics to guarantee that our products meet the highest standards. Additionally, you will design and execute in-flight benchmarks and calibration routines to push the boundaries of mission performance. During the launch and commissioning of new satellites, you will play a critical role in validating payload health and optimizing its configuration for nominal operations.

Responsibilities

The main activities related to the Flight Payload Engineer role are:

Performance Optimization: Continuous monitoring and fine-tuning of primary and secondary payloads to ensure maximum throughput and data quality across the constellation.

Second-Level Support: Providing expert technical analysis and troubleshooting for payload anomalies, coordinating with hardware and software teams to resolve complex in-orbit issues.

In-Flight Benchmarking: Designing and executing rigorous testing procedures and benchmarks to evaluate payload performance under various orbital conditions.

Metrics & Quality Control: Defining, implementing, and monitoring payload health and performance metrics to proactively identify degradation or optimization opportunities.

Commissioning & Calibration: Leading payload initialization and calibration activities for new satellites, ensuring a smooth transition from launch to nominal mission phases.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working closely with the Mission Operations and Data Product teams to align payload capabilities with customer requirements and mission goals.

Location  

Remote work from anywhere between UTC-5 and UTC+3 time zones. Satellogic’s office locations include Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Montevideo and Barcelona.

About you

Experience

Degree (or advanced studies) in aerospace engineering, Electronic Engineering or related fields.

Proven experience in testing, characterization, or operation of complex electronic systems (preferably on-board satellite hardware or high-performance sensors).

Familiarity with signal processing and data acquisition systems.

Skills

Working knowledge of Python for basic data analysis and task automation.

Linux Environment: Comfortable working with Bash scripting and containerization using Docker.

Data Science Foundations: Ability to process large datasets to extract performance trends and identify anomalies.

Intermediate English proficiency level.

Humble, flexible, and eager to learn.

Good communication and interpersonal skills.

What we value (Optional)

Data-Driven Analysis: Experience in building automated dashboards and technical reports to communicate system health and performance.

Validation Mindset: Prior experience designing validation procedures for complex systems to ensure they meet mission requirements.

Focus on Solutions: Ability to search for solutions, exploring different alternatives permanently.

Technical Writing: Ability to synthesize complex technical findings into clear, actionable reports for different stakeholders.

Diversity Commitment 

Satellogic is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We believe global top talent drives innovation and delivers superior products. We strive to build an equitable environment where everyone can do their best work, regardless of background. Please include your pronouns with your name on the application.

Learn more about Satellogic

To learn more about us please visit satellogic.com and follow us on X (@Satellogic) and LinkedIn