Space Operations Mission Planner – TS/SCI (Space/Satellite Systems)

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Space Operations Mission Planner

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking a Mission Planner to be a member of a cross-discipline specialist engineering team located in Albuquerque, NM responsible for command planning support, system problem/anomaly resolution support, data trending, operational product updates, and performance analyses for a National Security Space system. The team also provides program expertise on engineering subsystems and maintains a baseline of operational products for a complex system. The candidate will have an active role in shaping the basis of how to execute planning and operations. The candidate should be a self-starter who has a passion for space and wants to be part of a team who shares that passion.

Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

• Support on-orbit operations throughout all phases of mission (LEOPS, mission, end-of-life)

• Coordinate with mission and payload experiment planners to develop short-term and long-term flight plans

• Generate and validate spacecraft command load files using mission unique software applications
  Troubleshoot and revise mission plans to eliminate any violation of flight rule constraints

• Work with long-term planning team to optimize transition between mission objectives

• Participate in mission operations planning meetings

• Participate in all mission readiness rehearsals/exercises

• Coordinate with operations engineering in the planning and scheduling of spacecraft and payload operations and maintenance tasks

• Produce daily/weekly orbital products for operations team members

• Support mission simulation, scripting, and verification activities

Candidate must be self-motivated, able to work in a dynamic team environment and work under general direction while independently determining and developing approaches to solutions

  

This position can be filled as a level 2 or level 3 depending on experience and qualifications.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) (Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree)

• Minimum of 2 years (level 2) or 5 years (level 3) of experience in an engineering field and/or space operations.

• Basic understanding in orbital mechanics/astrodynamics

• Must possess and be able to maintain a current DoD Top Secret clearance with SCI 

• Experience conducting real-time satellite mission operations for Dod or NASA customers

• Ability to work odd and/or extended hours covering a 24/7 period and periodic rotating shifts

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in spacecraft and payload operations planning functions, launch and early-orbit test operations, and satellite command and control on-console operations

• Modeling satellite orbits and sensor fields of view/fields of regard to determine site access start/stop times and revisit frequency

• Perform short- and medium-term orbital analysis and participate in long term operations planning

• Experience in spacecraft and payload operations planning functions, launch and early-orbit test operations, and satellite command and control on-console operations.

• Ability to develop and maintain operational procedures, products, and training materials

• Previous experience with troubleshooting, anomaly resolution and performing analysis on operational systems

Salary Range: $73,000 USD - $103,000 USD

Salary Range 2: $90,000 USD - $128,000 USD

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The health and safety of our employees and their families is a top priority. The company encourages employees to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. U.S. Northrop Grumman employees may be required, in the future, to be vaccinated or have an approved disability/medical or religious accommodation, pursuant to future court decisions and/or government action on the currently stayed federal contractor vaccine mandate under Executive Order 14042 https://www.saferfederalworkforce.gov/contractors/.

Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.