Satellite Flight Operations Engineer - Mission… at Lynk · Chantilly

About Lynk Lynk is the inventor of satellite direct to device or D2D technology, and has the world’s only commercial license from the FCC to operate a commercial D2D system. Today, Lynk allows mobile network operators' subscribers to send and receive text messages to and from space via standard unmodified, mobile devices. Lynk’s service has been tested and proven on all seven continents, has regulatory approvals in more than 30 countries and is currently being deployed commercially based on more than 40 MNO commercial service contracts covering approximately 50 countries. Our technology will enable all 8 billion people on the planet to stay connected with the existing standard phone in their pocket. Everywhere. No matter what. By joining Lynk, you will have the opportunity to directly touch the lives of billions. Your mission will be to bring mobile broadband to billions, pull hundreds of millions out of poverty, and save countless lives. Job Summary: Lynk is looking for a Satellite Flight Operations Engineer to join the Mission Operations team in a hands-on satellite command, control, and operations role. This position sits at the intersection of satellite flight control and spacecraft systems operations engineering. The Flight Operations Engineer will work directly with the Flight Controller team to operate Lynk satellites, build and execute spacecraft schedules, monitor satellite health, and support safe and reliable day-to-day constellation operations. This is an early-career role with ample growth opportunity for someone with an engineering background who wants to develop practical satellite operations experience while also contributing to more technical operational analysis, planning, and engineering coordination. This position requires someone who is comfortable applying procedures, working carefully in operational environments, asking good questions, and taking on meaningful responsibility early in their career. The curious, disciplined, and motivated will excel in this position. Core Responsibilities: ● Satellite Command and Control Operations: Using command and control software tools, monitor satellite operations, perform manual commanding, review satellite telemetry, respond to anomalies, execute approved procedures, and communicate satellite status clearly. ● Spacecraft Scheduling and Operational Planning: Build, review, and execute spacecraft schedules in coordination with Mission Operations, Satellite Systems Engineering, Ground Operations, and other internal stakeholders. Help ensure planned activities are properly sequenced, operationally safe, and aligned with spacecraft and ground system constraints. ● Processes and Procedures: Follow established operational processes and procedures to support safe and reliable satellite operations. Contribute feedback to improve procedures, reduce ambiguity, and increase operational efficiency. ● Tool Evaluation and User Feedback: Serve as an operational user of command and control tools, scheduling tools, dashboards, and automation. Provide clear feedback to software developers and engineering teams on usability, operational gaps, workflow issues, and opportunities for improvement. ● Satellite System Analysis: Assist the Satellite Systems Engineering team with satellite health and performance analysis, anomaly investigation, peer review of analysis products, and operational assessments. Identify trends, document observations, and support troubleshooting under the guidance of more senior engineers. ● Engineering Coordination and Review: Support operational planning that requires engineering judgment, cross-team coordination, or careful review beyond standard controller execution. Help translate engineering intent into safe and executable operational plans. ● In-orbit commissioning: Support satellite in-orbit commissioning activities, including initial contact, early operations, performance testing, procedure execution, and post-pass review. What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months: ● Become a Reliable Certified Flight Controller: Demonstrate the judgment, discipline, and procedural accuracy required to safely support satellite operations on console. A successful candidate will be able to execute procedures, monitor telemetry, communicate status clearly, identify off-nominal behavior, and escalate issues at the right time without needing excessive supervision. ● Build and Execute Operationally Sound Spacecraft Schedules: Create spacecraft activity schedules that account for operational constraints, ground contact opportunities, command sequencing, spacecraft configuration, and coordination with engineering stakeholders. A strong candidate should be able to show prior experience planning, sequencing, coordinating, or executing complex technical activities where timing, dependencies, and accuracy mattered. ● Support Anomaly Investigation and Technical Problem Solving: Contribute to anomaly reviews by gathering data, reviewing telemetry, documenting observations, identifying relevant timelines, and helping engineers separate symptoms from likely causes. A strong candidate should be able to demonstrate experience investigating a technical problem, using data to narrow possibilities, and communicating findings clearly. ● Translate Engineering Intent into Executable Operations: Work with engineers and operators to turn technical objectives into clear operational steps, procedures, schedules, or review products. A strong candidate should be able to point to experience taking an ambiguous technical goal and helping turn it into something executable, testable, or operationally useful. ● Improve Operational Clarity and Repeatability: Identify gaps in procedures, tools, handoffs, or documentation and help make the operation more reliable. This may include improving checklists, clarifying execution steps, documenting lessons learned, or providing structured feedback on operational tools. A strong candidate should be able to show examples of improving a process, reducing confusion, or making repeated work more consistent. Qualifications: ● Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a degree that you can demonstrate is relevant to this job profile. ● 0–5 years of relevant experience. Strong new graduates with internships, project experience, military operations experience, satellite operations exposure, or a compelling record of hands-on technical achievement are encouraged to apply. ● Passion for space exploration and satellite technology, with a keen interest in contributing to using space to improve life on Earth. ● Demonstrated mentality of continuous learning and skill development. ● Demonstrated independent thinking and initiative in problem solving scenarios, contributing to the resolution of complex technical problems. Preferred Qualifications: ● Internship, academic project, military, or professional experience involving satellites, spacecraft systems, ground systems, mission operations, flight dynamics, RF systems, embedded systems, robotics, controls, or other operationally complex technical systems. ● Familiarity with Linux environments, scripting, telemetry review, data analysis, or operational dashboards. ● Exposure to satellite command and control, spacecraft scheduling, anomaly investigation, mission planning, or operations center environments. ● Basic programming or data analysis experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar tools is helpful, but this is not primarily a software development role. Job Location: Washington, DC area.