Systems Operations Engineer - Ground Segment

Be part of a mission that helps protect the planet

Thorn SDS is a specialist Managed Service Provider supporting organisations across Space, Defence, and Security sectors. We partner with customers on mission-critical programmes where reliability, expertise, and operational excellence are essential.

We are seeking a Systems Operations Engineer (Ground Segment) to support operations for the MTG GEO (Meteosat Third Generation Geostationary) Earth Observation mission, comprising imaging and sounder spacecraft, delivering critical weather and climate data across Europe and worldwide.

Working within an international operations environment, you will support the ground segment responsible for receiving, processing, storing, and distributing satellite data from space to end users such as meteorologists, scientists, and forecasting agencies.

This role sits at the centre of the space-to-ground data chain, ensuring reliable mission data delivery that supports weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster prevention.

Key Responsibilities

• Support routine ground segment operations for satellite data acquisition, processing, archiving, and dissemination.

• Monitor operational systems, telemetry streams, and data processing chains to ensure continuous and reliable mission data delivery.

• Analyse operational outputs and system performance to maintain end-to-end data flow across the space-to-ground chain.

• Participate in operations planning and preparation, including routine scheduling, maintenance activities, and special operations campaigns.

• Monitor system alerts and investigate operational anomalies, coordinating with engineering and specialist teams to support resolution.

• Contribute to operational coordination across ground segment teams and stakeholders to ensure consistent system performance.

• Produce operational reports, performance summaries, and mission status updates.

• Maintain operational procedures, documentation, and knowledge repositories.

• Track operational activities, incidents, and changes using collaboration tools such as Jira and Confluence.

Technical Environment

You will work with systems such as:

• Satellite ground station acquisition and processing systems

• Mission control and telemetry monitoring environments

• Data storage and dissemination platforms

• Multi-mission ground segment infrastructure

Common tools include Excel, Jira, and Confluence.

Requirements

Essential

• Minimum 1–2 years’ experience in satellite operations, mission control, or ground segment environments

• Understanding of telemetry monitoring, data acquisition, or processing workflows

• Strong coordination and communication skills

• Fluent in English

Desirable

• Experience with Earth observation missions

• Familiarity with telemetry or mission control tools

• Experience with Jira or Confluence

Why Join

• Contribute to a major European weather and climate monitoring mission (MTG GEO)

• Work in a long-term international space programme

• Develop broad ground segment and satellite operations expertise

Plus:

• 20 Statutory Vacation Days, + 10 Additional Vacation Days.

• German Public Holiday Days + Organisation Specific Holidays

• Subsidised Deutsche Bahn Ticket

• Subsidy to Welfare Activities

• Subsidy to Organisation Social Clubs

• Local Thorn Office with Coworking Spaces, Gym, Leisure Activities and Canteen

• Individual Educational Programme Support

• Access to a wide range of Training Material and Programmes

• Flexible and Hybrid Working Options

If you have the expertise to support this requirement and are eager to make an impact in a critical role, please apply today!

All applicants must already hold the Right to Work in Germany as sponsorship cannot be provided for this role.

The working language for this mission is English, and all applications / CVs must be submitted in English.