Earth Stations Operations Engineer

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end technical oversight and operational support for earth stations, including RF/IF chains, antenna systems, tracking, and environmental systems
• Monitor operations, perform station bring-ups, execute link activations, and drive performance optimization
• Troubleshoot and resolve anomalies; lead fault isolation across ground, mission, space, and network segments
• Plan and execute preventive and corrective maintenance, including fieldwork and vendor coordination
• Collaborate cross-functionally with satellite operations, engineering, IT, network, and software teams
• Develop and maintain SOPs, MOPs, contingency procedures, and operational documentation
• Build and maintain tools and dashboards for telemetry, trending, and system health monitoring
• Support testing, commissioning, and acceptance of new stations and system upgrades

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (or related field), or 3+ years of relevant experience in earth station operations
• Experience with earth station systems, including antennas, link budgets, and RF front-/back-end equipment
• Hands-on experience with antenna operations, calibration, diagnostics, and monitoring
• Proficiency with RF test equipment (e.g., spectrum analyzers, signal generators)
• Ability to work in 24/7 or on-call environments
• Willingness to travel approximately 20%
• Ability to obtain a security clearance
• Physically capable of fieldwork (lifting, climbing, standing, bending, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an Earth Station Operations Center
• Hands-on experience with ground systems (e.g., CPI, Kratos), including antenna control and tracking systems
• Working knowledge of networking (Ethernet, IP, TCP) and regulatory frameworks (FCC, ITU)
• Experience with scripting or software tools for automation and monitoring

Benefits

• Competitive base salary ($125,000 - $160,000 USD)
• Significant equity package via incentive stock options
• High-quality company-subsidized healthcare
• Disability and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement planning
• Flexible PTO
• Free on-site catered meals

About the Company

Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity’s reach into the solar system. Today, Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe—large enterprises, sovereign governments, and the US military. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA.