Principal Service Platform Engineer

Your impact

We are seeking a skilled satellite communications engineer to join our Network Engineering team. This role involves designing, implementing, and maintaining satellite communication networks for optimal performance and reliability. The ideal candidate will have experience with iDirect Velocity platforms, hiSky IoT solutions, and satellite broadband systems. Responsibilities include service design requirement analysis, lab testing, evaluation, and creating technical documentation. You will establish best practices for asset management, performance monitoring, and security, collaborate with stakeholders, mentor junior team members, and support training environments for deployment and operations teams.

What you will do

• Design, develop, and deploy satellite communication systems using iDirect Velocity and hiSky IoT platforms.
• Configure and optimize iDirect Velocity hubs and modems for high-throughput satellite (HTS) networks.
• Integrate hiSky Smartellite terminals for IoT applications, ensuring seamless connectivity and data transmission.
• Understand link budget analysis, network planning, and capacity management to support broadband services.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including provisioning and operations engineers, to troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues.
• Develop and maintain documentation for system configurations, operational procedures, and technical support.
• Stay updated with emerging technologies in satellite communications to recommend innovative solutions.
• Perform engineering calculations using standard principles, theories, concepts, and techniques.
• Work with stakeholders to deploy Intelsat's platforms and solutions to PoPs and teleports.
• Collaborate with project managers on technical scope, schedule, budget, and resource needs.
• Provide leadership to mentor and coach team members.
• Enhance training materials and deliver ongoing training to operations team members.

Your required experience/skills

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related discipline, with at least five years of network and/or systems experience (or equivalent education and work experience).
• Experience configuring and managing iDirect Velocity platforms, including hub systems and modems.
• Experience with hiSky IoT solutions, particularly Smartellite terminals and associated applications.
• Good understanding of satellite communication protocols, standards, and network management systems.
• Ability to perform accurate link budget analysis and satellite network planning.
• Familiarity with RF communication systems design and testing.
• Knowledge of system hub components, VSAT Terminals, and VSAT Antennas.
• Familiarity with ancillary technologies supporting telecommunication networks, such as management and metric gathering tools (Rest-API, SNMP, Netflow), packet capturing tools, and automation tools.
• Knowledge of operating systems, including Linux, Debian, Unix, and related OS.
• Must be able and willing to travel domestically and internationally up to 25%.
• Must be able and willing to perform physical support activities (e.g. cable tracing/running and racking, stacking, replacing and installing hardware) as needed.
• Ability to interact with Intelsat upstream and downstream teams to define detailed Statement of Work (SOW) documentation.
• This role is subject to ITAR/EAR; candidates must be a US Person (this includes US Citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Individual such as an asylee or refugee).

Your success in this role will look like:

• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

It would be nice if you had:

• Knowledge of IP routing protocols, including but not limited to BGP, EVPN, OSPF, RIP-2.
• Knowledge of switching technologies, including but not limited to IGMP, 802.XX, Gigabit Ethernet, 10G Ethernet, VXLAN, VLAN/Trunking (802.1q and ISL).
• Experience with system deployments.
• Knowledge of RF (C Band, Ku Band, and Ka Band), IF, L-Band, and RF systems and teleport technologies.
• Knowledge of various modulation and coding schemes for DVB-S, DVB-S2, and DVB-S2X.
• Scripting/coding skills.

How we support you:

• Hybrid work environment offering up to two days per week work from home (for eligible positions)
• Development opportunities supporting professional growth championed by our dedicated Learning & Development team. 20-25% of our positions are hired internally!
• Ways to get involved: satellite launch parties, company connect events, charitable activities, team social events and recognition programs.
• Wide range of benefits and perks to help you stay healthy, happy, and productive. These include paid leave programs, medical, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits, employee wellness offerings, and more!

These benefits are designed to support your overall well-being and help you succeed in your role.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Intelsat is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

While it is important to note that meeting the minimum qualifications is a fundamental requirement for consideration, if you are enthusiastic about this role and are unsure how well your experience aligns with these requirements, we encourage you to apply. Our recruitment team will assess your application and determine if your skills and qualifications meet the essential criteria for this role or whether there might be another role within our organization that is a better match.