Director of Satellite Operations Control Systems

Globalstar
dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, 401(k)
United States, Louisiana, Covington
Jun 03, 2025
Description Who we are: Globalstar pioneered personal safety by introducing its SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger in 2007. Today, leveraging its low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation, Globalstar reliably connects and protects assets, transmits key operational data, and saves lives - from any location - for consumers, industrial companies and government agencies in over 120 countries. With a portfolio that includes SPOT GPS messengers, next-generation IoT products and modems, and cloud-based telematics solutions, Globalstar's cost effective satellite-powered innovations give users visibility and intelligence for improving safety and operational efficiencies. What we offer: Work/Life Balance: Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays Financial Benefits: 401(k) Plan with Company Match, Employee Stock Purchase Program, Voluntary and Company Paid Group Life Insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Medical FSA, Dependent Care, Competitive Salaries Health & Wellness: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Comprehensive and Interactive Wellness Program Job Summary: The Director of Satellite Operations Control Systems will oversee the development, enhancement, and ongoing maintenance of the software and hardware systems responsible for controlling Globalstar's constellation of low earth orbit satellites. Relevant software and hardware systems include operations control center software as well as telemetry and command modems. This is a hands-on engineering Director role that must actively contribute to projects while also managing a team of engineers. The role also works closely with teams in Satellite Engineering, Operations, Systems Engineering, and IT departments to ensure control systems are efficient, secure, and aligned with the evolving needs of satellite operations over mission life. Supervisory Responsibilities: Recruit, interview, hire, and train direct reports Oversee the work and assignments of direct reports Provide constructive and timely performance feedback Handle discipline and termination of employees in accordance with company policy Duties/Responsibilities: Actively lead the design, development, and deployment of software applications and modems used to control and monitor satellite operations. Manage a team of engineers, providing technical leadership, mentorship, and fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture. Collaborate with system administrators and network engineers to ensure successful operation of software in isolated environments. Manage software lifecycle, including testing, deployment, troubleshooting, and ongoing maintenance to ensure continuous operation and improvement of control systems. Work with Operations and Engineering teams to optimize designs for efficient and reliable execution of mission needs. Skills and Competencies: Strong understanding of software architecture and configuration management best practices Strong understanding of satellite communication protocols, mission planning systems, and spacecraft operations Experience generating requirements for internally and externally developed software Experience acting as a lead/project engineer/project manager for externally developed software applications Experience augmenting and maintaining real-time, highly available, mission-critical software applications Passionate about building and maintaining software development lifecycles Experience with scripting languages (e.g. Python, Shell, etc) is required Experience with Linux environments is required Familiarity with Infrastructure as Code principles and tools is preferred Familiarity with message brokers (e.g. RabbitMQ) is preferred Familiarity with time series databases (e.g. Influx, PostgreSQL, Prometheus) is preferred Ability to solve complex technical problems and make high-stakes decisions under pressure Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to interact clearly and concisely with all departments and levels of management Excellent organizational skills with attention-to-detail Ability to meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment Ability to effectively manage time and prioritize tasks Ability to act with integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality Proficiency with Microsoft Office Education, Experience, and Licenses/Certifications: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or equivalent work experience 20+ years experience with satellite operations control centers and telemetry/commanding systems Physical Requirements: Willingness and ability to travel as needed Willingness and ability to work after regularly scheduled hours as needed Ability to sit at a desk for prolonged periods working on a computer (4 to 8 hours) Ability to lift 15 pounds at times Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job Marginal Functions: A review of this job description may have omitted some of the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of the job duties and responsibilities. This job description, in no way, states or implies that these are the only duties and/or responsibilities to be performed by the employee in this position. The employee in this position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by his/her supervisor. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.