Company Description

Inmarsat has been at the forefront of global mobile satellite communications for over forty years, and is the market leading provider of voice and high-speed data communications for users on land, at sea and in the air through its constellation of 14 geostationary satellites.  Inmarsat is a privately owned company with a profitable track record and significant growth aspirations. This is represented by more than 55 nationalities in the workforce, reflecting the global and dynamic nature of the business. With an investment of over $3 billion in its latest network infrastructure, Inmarsat is at the forefront of global mobile communications innovation.

Chief Operations Office 

Inmarsat’s Chief Operations Office (COO) plays a vital role managing the services that keep our business running and delivering to our customers. COO consists of 9 functions including: Satellite Operations, Network Operations, Service Assurance, Service Delivery Aviation and Customer Assurance, Service Delivery and Supply Chain, Project Management Office, Global Cyber Security and Group IT

Job Description

Primary role purpose:

The Ground Control Systems group (GCS) is one of five groups under the Satellite Control Division (SCD), Chief Operations Officer (COO) area. Responsibilities of GCS include system engineering and operational support duties relevant to Inmarsat’s Tracking, Telemetry and Command (TT&C) network, Inmarsat’s In-Orbit Test (IOT) infrastructure, Ground Payload Control Systems (GPCS) and several other ground-based subsystems. The group is also responsible for some commercial activities, e.g. the provision of TT&C services during the transfer orbit of newly launched satellites (third-party launch support) for external clients. Going forward, a substantial implementation effort will be required from the group to timely meet specific ground segment and IOT requirements of the Inmarsat-6 satellite programme, followed by GX789 and GX10.

As a member of GCS, you will provide technical, operational and programmatic contributions to the core engineering activities of the group (in support of Inmarsat’s present and future satellite generations), to the commercial activities such as third-party launch support, and to specific projects such as the planning, preparation, co-ordination and execution of the payload In-Orbit Test campaigns of Inmarsat’s newly launched satellites (the first of which is Inmarsat-6 F1 expected to be launched at the end of 2021). The role includes taking up leadership and/or programme management responsibility for specified activities.

Key responsibilities of the position:

The Senior TTC/IOT Engineer is expected to contribute to (and in some cases lead) in the following areas of work:

• Provide support to various core engineering and/or operational activities of the GCS group as required to support Inmarsat’s present and future satellites, TT&C launch support activities, network upgrades, maintenance activities, ground systems support including on-call etc
• Participate in the procurement and implementation of Inmarsat and non-Inmarsat TT&C/GPCS/IOT services and equipment including development of requirements, RFP specifications, evaluation of bids, negotiations with selected bidders, monitoring technical and operational aspects of contracts.
• Evaluate test methods and test results, and participate in factory and on-site acceptance testing for baseband, IF, RF, GPCS, IOT earth station equipment. Perform independent analysis of earth station performance
• Lead IV&V / Compatibility Testing planning and co-ordination, procedures development and test execution
• Develop Interface Control Documents (ICDs). Co-ordinate / conduct Integration and Test (I&T) activities of earth station equipment
• Develop Operations Concept documents (CONOPS) in relevant areas.
• Develop and maintain link budgets, including accuracy calculations of earth station ranging systems (standard tone ranging and spread-spectrum ranging)
• Develop Operations and Maintenance plans for on-station routine operations. Ensure training and handover to operations personnel are carried out smoothly. Set up maintenance arrangements as necessary. Develop methods of monitoring earth stations to ensure availability requirements are met
• For launch and early orbit operations (LEOP) of Inmarsat and non-Inmarsat satellites, support preparations and implementation activities, develop Specialised Operations Plans (SOPs), participate to rehearsals and exercises, provide real-time support during the mission either on-site or at the SCC
• For the Inmarsat-6 Ground Payload Control System (GPCS) development, provide support to the project and ensure that experience with existing PCS systems is fully made available for the benefit of the new project
• Planning, preparation, co-ordination and execution of the payload IOT campaigns of the Inmarsat satellites, including:
  • From the Space Segment-provided payload IOT Plans, develop requirements and specifications for future IOT Measurement Systems, and participate in the procurement and implementation of these systems including factory and on-site acceptance testing
  • Develop payload IOT procedures, Sequences of Events (SOEs) and test sequences
  • Lead payload IOT Campaigns preparations and planning including IOT Operations Plan, database preparation, loading of the measurement sequences, on-site IOT procedure validation, IOT rehearsals and all required site logistics
  • Conduct the payload IOT campaigns at selected earth stations (including managing personnel deployment and shifts planning)
• Support Inmarsat’s payload IOT ground infrastructure (including day-to-day operations, maintenance, support, evolution, augmentation and technology refresh). This activity includes interfacing with internal customers and managing the utilisation of the IOT assets

Qualifications

Essential knowledge and skills:

• University degree in electrical or electronic engineering or equivalent
• Satellite communications experience or equivalent abilities, with exposure to earth station RF and IF satellite communications equipment design, implementation and testing, to TT&C ground systems design and operations and to satellite IOT and associated testing;
• Work experience in mission real-time operational environment
• Good written and spoken command and communications skills in English
• Ability to prioritise and to work well under pressure
• Analytical approach to problems, but prepared to take practical shortcuts when necessary

Desirable knowledge and skills:

• Experience in a multinational team, in international telecommunications environment
• Knowledge of data communications systems and protocols (TCP/IP in particular)
• Experience of satellite IOT and associated testing
• Computer systems, programming and software administration experience
• Good negotiation skills with customers and suppliers

Additional information:

• The post is based at Inmarsat’s headquarters in London, but the Senior TTC/IOT Engineer shall be prepared to travel. Travel can be expected to a variety of Inmarsat facilities worldwide
• Flexibility on working hours (including on-call support) and ability to support activities with little or no prior notice shall be expected
• Given the scope and responsibilities of this role, the successful candidate will need to access ITAR controlled information. Successful applicants will therefore be required to provide personal information, including place of birth and all nationalities, to ensure compliance with US export control requirements

Additional Information

You must be eligible to work in this location advertised.

Inmarsat Values: 

Our values define Inmarsat’s culture and represent what we believe in. Inmarsat employees aspire to certain behaviours which support our corporate values, they create a stronger working environment and lie at the heart of our continued success as an organisation.

• Accountability – taking ownership, getting results and keeping our promises
• Respect – collaborating, embracing diversity and valuing differences
• Excellence – creating bold solutions for our customers and putting quality at the heart of everything we do