Ground Operations Engineer

Role Overview

Thorn SDS is a specialist Managed Service Provider dedicated to helping technology-driven organisations and professionals succeed in some of the world’s most demanding environments—Space, UK Defence, and Security. We are seeking an experienced Ground Station Operations Engineer to support spacecraft ground segment operations within the ESOC/ESTRACK environment. The role covers the end-to-end ground station chain, combining RF communications, TT&C operations, station configuration, testing, performance analysis and incident investigation.

Key Responsibilities

• Support setup, configuration, maintenance and operation of ground station systems.
• Support TT&C and Delta-DOR services, including spacecraft pass operations and TM/TC quality analysis.
• Perform ground station incident investigation, troubleshooting and performance analysis.
• Analyse station log files, verify performance against requirements and document results.
• Support station planning, tailoring, configuration, testing and validation.
• Coordinate ground station subsystem upgrades and operational deployments across ESTRACK.
• Support setup, validation and execution of critical ground station operations.
• Produce technical documentation and work closely with mission teams and technical customers.

Essential Experience

• Minimum 3 years’ experience with end-to-end ground station systems supporting spacecraft operations.
• Strong understanding of RF communications and ground station architecture, including:
  • Antennas and RF front-end equipment
  • Back-end TT&C systems
  • Space-to-ground communications
  • Link budgets
  • Modulation, coding, polarisation and frequency bands
• Knowledge of CCSDS SLE and PUS standards.
• Experience with ground station performance monitoring, log analysis and incident investigation.
• Experience with RF subsystem testing and/or operational validation.
• Ability to work independently in a technical operational environment.
• Fluent English, written and spoken.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience with ESA, ESOC Operations Infrastructure and/or ESTRACK.
• Mission Control Systems and associated data-exchange interfaces.
• Link-budget analysis using LBTE.
• NDIU configuration, testing and validation.
• Software-Defined Radio (SDR) solutions.
• CubeSat and small-satellite ground systems.
• Hands-on RF/laboratory test equipment experience.
• Virtual machine management and firewall administration.
• Experience leading ground-station-specific critical operations.
• Class A Amateur Radio Certification for ESOC-2/Reindeer antenna operations.

Benefits

• 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

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 .