Technical Training Lead - Spacecraft Engineering & Operations

EchoStar is reimagining the future of connectivity. Our business reach spans satellite television service, live-streaming and on-demand programming, smart home installation services, mobile plans and products.

Today, our brands include Boost Mobile, DISH TV, Gen Mobile, Hughes and Sling TV.

We are seeking a Technical Training Lead, Spacecraft Engineering & Operations to join our Spacecraft Operations Center (SOC) in a mission-critical hybrid role.  This position integrates the functions of a Senior Controller, Ground System Engineer, and Spacecraft Engineer.  Your primary mission will be to architect, develop, and deliver comprehensive technical training programs that ensure our operational staff maintains the highest level of proficiency for 24/7 mission support.  You will be responsible for leading technical improvement projects and maintaining expert-level console skills to support non-standard shifts and on-call duties as required by our high-stakes environment.

The Technical Training Lead - Spacecraft Engineering & Operations is a critical hybrid role encompassing Spacecraft Engineer, Senior Controller, and Ground System Engineer functions. This position is responsible for leading all technical training and improvement projects within the Spacecraft Operations Center (SOC). Key responsibilities include designing and delivering comprehensive training to ensure personnel proficiency for mission support, and leading technical and process optimization projects. The role will also provide necessary operational and engineering support, which may include on-call and crew scheduling duties. While the position primarily observes office hours, it requires flexibility to support non-standard 12-hour rotating shifts as demanded by a 24/7 operations environment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Training Program Architecture & Management:

• Oversee and coordinate all department training programs, ensuring continuous maintenance to reflect current operational requirements.
• Design new lesson plans and develop facilitating training scenarios utilizing Dynamic Spacecraft Simulators and the spacecraft operations floor.
• Create and implement modular training materials to guide individuals toward the next level of responsibility 
• Manage and organize existing training resources, generating required training for new procedures, software/hardware changes, and lessons learned, ensuring comprehensive team-wide distribution.

Initial Training Delivery:

• Lead initial training for all new hires and interns across all three SOC teams (Spacecraft Operations, Spacecraft Engineering, and System Administrators/Engineers), often involving overlapping stages.
• Deliver pre-console training through lectures and tutorials covering administration, ground systems, computers, and spacecraft information/resources.
• Conduct hands-on/practical training where new hires perform job functions and assume shift responsibilities in the live operations environment.
• Administer written and practical assessments, including evaluations of trainee job performance by simulating anomalous scenarios.

Recurrent and Advanced Training:

• Provide monthly and quarterly recurrent skills training to Spacecraft Operations staff.
• Offer specialized engineering training to the Spacecraft Engineering team, including advanced orbital mechanics topics and maneuver training.
• Coordinate annual proficiency quizzes and provide remedial operational training as needed.
•  

Operational Support & Collaboration:

• Provide essential operational support to the Spacecraft Controller and Engineering teams, potentially including on-console shift support or 24x7 on-call support.
• Assist in supporting crew activities and coordinate with improvement teams on operational improvement projects and initiatives.
•  

Engineering & Technical Expertise:

• Ensure the correct evaluation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of spacecraft performance and subsystems, coordinating and validating routine and non-routine commanding.
• Oversee trending and analysis of spacecraft health data, rigorously managing and approving monitoring criteria for accuracy.
• Ensure the correct planning and flawless execution of maneuvers, including meticulous reconstruction, precise orbit determination, and validated short-term orbit strategies.
• Champion the development, thorough review, and innovative improvement of new processes, methods, scripts, and tools for engineering and operations, ensuring correctness and efficiency.
• Maintain the highest level of Senior Spacecraft Controller proficiency and meticulously develop innovative, accurate training material and validated simulator scenarios.
•  

Education and Experience:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree (B.S.) in an engineering field (e.g., Electrical Engineering, Physics, Math) from an accredited four-year college or university is preferred.
• 6+ years of spacecraft operations and/or spacecraft engineering experience.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (access to U.S. export restricted materials required).

• Must possess specialized knowledge of one or more of the following spacecraft subsystems: Attitude Control, Data Handling/Onboard Processing, Flight Dynamics and Orbit Mechanics, Mechanisms, Payload, Propulsion, Power, Thermal, or Telemetry Tracking & Control (TT&C).

Technical Acumen:

• Engineering Mathematics: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability, statistical inference, calculus, differential equations, and fundamentals of plane/solid geometry and trigonometry.
• Scientific Application: Ability to apply engineering principles and scientific methods (e.g., laws of mechanics of particles and solid bodies) to real-world engineering problems.
• Analytical Reasoning: Proven ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, apply visual and spatial reasoning, interpret technical instructions, and draw valid engineering conclusions.
• Computational Tools: Ability to utilize mathematical and computational tools to solve complex engineering problems.

Professional Competencies:

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to communicate effectively (both written and verbal) to interact with peers, management, and executive leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, technical procedures, or government policy.
• Able to write reports, correspondence, and procedure manuals, and present information and respond to questions from diverse audiences.
• Attentive to details, proactive, confident, and able to collaborate effectively in a multi-team environment to accomplish tasks.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and other computer networking and communications systems principles.

Preferred Experience:

• Working with Kratos EPOCH TT&C and OASYS, AGI STK, MATLAB, Python, or Linux systems & software.
•  

Work Attire: Business Casual

Work Hours: Core Standard Business Hours; supports 24X7 coverage consisting of a non-standard 12-hour, 2-2-3. Panama Shift Schedule on days or mids, as needed.

Visa sponsorship not available for this role

We offer versatile health perks, including flexible spending accounts, HSA, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, career opportunities, and a flexible time away plan; all benefits can be viewed here: EchoStar Benefits.

The base pay range shown is a guideline. Individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, and competencies; compensation is based on the role's location and is subject to change based on work location. 

Candidates need to successfully complete a pre-employment screen, which may include a drug test and DMV check. Our company is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where every individual has the opportunity to succeed. We are dedicated to providing individuals with criminal or arrest records a fair chance of employment in accordance with local, state, and federal laws.

The posting will be active for a minimum of 3 days. The active posting will continue to extend by 3 days until the position is filled.

We pride ourselves on developing and promoting talent as an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. EchoStar will accommodate the sincerely held religious beliefs of employees if such accommodations are not undue hardships and are otherwise within the bounds of applicable law. All qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with local, state, and federal law. You may redact any information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of school/graduation from your application documents before submission and throughout our application process.

EchoStar will provide reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified job applicants and employees with known physical or mental disabilities, unless doing so poses an undue hardship on the Company, poses a direct threat of substantial harm to others, or is otherwise not required by law. EchoStar has a more detailed Accommodation Policy that applies to employees. EchoStar endeavors to make echostar.com and jobs.echostar.com accessible to users. Please contact leaves@dish.com if you would like to discuss the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process. This contact information is for accommodation requests only; do not use this contact information to inquire about the status of applications.

Click the links to access the following statements: EEO Policy Statement, Pay Transparency, EEOC Know Your Rights (English/Spanish)

Education and Experience:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree (B.S.) in an engineering field (e.g., Electrical Engineering, Physics, Math) from an accredited four-year college or university is preferred.
• 6+ years of spacecraft operations and/or spacecraft engineering experience.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (access to U.S. export restricted materials required).

• Must possess specialized knowledge of one or more of the following spacecraft subsystems: Attitude Control, Data Handling/Onboard Processing, Flight Dynamics and Orbit Mechanics, Mechanisms, Payload, Propulsion, Power, Thermal, or Telemetry Tracking & Control (TT&C).

Technical Acumen:

• Engineering Mathematics: Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability, statistical inference, calculus, differential equations, and fundamentals of plane/solid geometry and trigonometry.
• Scientific Application: Ability to apply engineering principles and scientific methods (e.g., laws of mechanics of particles and solid bodies) to real-world engineering problems.
• Analytical Reasoning: Proven ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, apply visual and spatial reasoning, interpret technical instructions, and draw valid engineering conclusions.
• Computational Tools: Ability to utilize mathematical and computational tools to solve complex engineering problems.

Professional Competencies:

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to communicate effectively (both written and verbal) to interact with peers, management, and executive leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, technical procedures, or government policy.
• Able to write reports, correspondence, and procedure manuals, and present information and respond to questions from diverse audiences.
• Attentive to details, proactive, confident, and able to collaborate effectively in a multi-team environment to accomplish tasks.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and other computer networking and communications systems principles.

Preferred Experience:

• Working with Kratos EPOCH TT&C and OASYS, AGI STK, MATLAB, Python, or Linux systems & software.
•  

Work Attire: Business Casual

Work Hours: Core Standard Business Hours; supports 24X7 coverage consisting of a non-standard 12-hour, 2-2-3. Panama Shift Schedule on days or mids, as needed.

Visa sponsorship not available for this role

The Technical Training Lead - Spacecraft Engineering & Operations is a critical hybrid role encompassing Spacecraft Engineer, Senior Controller, and Ground System Engineer functions. This position is responsible for leading all technical training and improvement projects within the Spacecraft Operations Center (SOC). Key responsibilities include designing and delivering comprehensive training to ensure personnel proficiency for mission support, and leading technical and process optimization projects. The role will also provide necessary operational and engineering support, which may include on-call and crew scheduling duties. While the position primarily observes office hours, it requires flexibility to support non-standard 12-hour rotating shifts as demanded by a 24/7 operations environment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Training Program Architecture & Management:

• Oversee and coordinate all department training programs, ensuring continuous maintenance to reflect current operational requirements.
• Design new lesson plans and develop facilitating training scenarios utilizing Dynamic Spacecraft Simulators and the spacecraft operations floor.
• Create and implement modular training materials to guide individuals toward the next level of responsibility 
• Manage and organize existing training resources, generating required training for new procedures, software/hardware changes, and lessons learned, ensuring comprehensive team-wide distribution.

Initial Training Delivery:

• Lead initial training for all new hires and interns across all three SOC teams (Spacecraft Operations, Spacecraft Engineering, and System Administrators/Engineers), often involving overlapping stages.
• Deliver pre-console training through lectures and tutorials covering administration, ground systems, computers, and spacecraft information/resources.
• Conduct hands-on/practical training where new hires perform job functions and assume shift responsibilities in the live operations environment.
• Administer written and practical assessments, including evaluations of trainee job performance by simulating anomalous scenarios.

Recurrent and Advanced Training:

• Provide monthly and quarterly recurrent skills training to Spacecraft Operations staff.
• Offer specialized engineering training to the Spacecraft Engineering team, including advanced orbital mechanics topics and maneuver training.
• Coordinate annual proficiency quizzes and provide remedial operational training as needed.
•  

Operational Support & Collaboration:

• Provide essential operational support to the Spacecraft Controller and Engineering teams, potentially including on-console shift support or 24x7 on-call support.
• Assist in supporting crew activities and coordinate with improvement teams on operational improvement projects and initiatives.
•  

Engineering & Technical Expertise:

• Ensure the correct evaluation, troubleshooting, and maintenance of spacecraft performance and subsystems, coordinating and validating routine and non-routine commanding.
• Oversee trending and analysis of spacecraft health data, rigorously managing and approving monitoring criteria for accuracy.
• Ensure the correct planning and flawless execution of maneuvers, including meticulous reconstruction, precise orbit determination, and validated short-term orbit strategies.
• Champion the development, thorough review, and innovative improvement of new processes, methods, scripts, and tools for engineering and operations, ensuring correctness and efficiency.
• Maintain the highest level of Senior Spacecraft Controller proficiency and meticulously develop innovative, accurate training material and validated simulator scenarios.
•