Satellite Operations Explained: Complete Career Guide 2025

Ever wonder who's actually controlling all those satellites up there?

Not the engineers who built them. Not the scientists who designed the missions. The satellite operators—the people who actually fly them, monitor them, and keep them working.

Satellite operations is one of the most important careers in space, but it's also one of the least understood. You're not building rockets or designing spacecraft. You're operating them. And that's a whole different skill set.

This guide will show you exactly what satellite operations is, what operators actually do, and how to get into this career.

What Is Satellite Operations, Actually?

The Simple Answer: Satellite operations is the team that controls and monitors satellites in space. They command satellites, monitor their health, and ensure they complete their missions.

The Real Answer: Satellite operations is a 24/7 job that requires constant monitoring, quick problem-solving, and the ability to handle high-stakes situations when things go wrong.

What You Actually Do:
- Command satellites
- Monitor satellite health
- Plan and execute maneuvers
- Troubleshoot problems
- Coordinate with mission teams
- Ensure mission success

The Real Talk: Satellite operators are the ones who actually fly satellites. It's a critical job, and it's in high demand.

Why Satellite Operations Is Growing (And What That Means for You)

The Reality: The number of satellites in space is exploding. In 2025:

- Starlink: Over 6,000 satellites in orbit, with plans for tens of thousands more
- Global Growth: Record-breaking satellite deployments worldwide
- New Constellations: Companies launching massive satellite constellations
- Commercial Growth: Commercial satellites now outnumber government satellites

What This Means: More satellites = more satellite operators needed. The industry is growing fast, and operators are in high demand.

Recent News (2025):
- Starlink reached 7.6 million subscribers and expanded Direct to Cell service to over 100 countries
- Rocket Lab launched 21 missions, deploying multiple satellites
- Google announced Project Suncatcher with 81 AI-powered satellites
- The global space economy reached $613 billion, with commercial sector growth

The Real Talk: If you want to get into satellite operations, now is a good time. Companies are hiring.

Types of Satellite Operations Jobs

Satellite Operator

What You Do: Command satellites, monitor systems, execute procedures
Salary: $70K - $120K+
Experience: 1+ years
The Real Talk: Satellite operators are the ones in mission control. They command satellites and monitor their health.

Mission Operations Engineer

What You Do: Design operations procedures, troubleshoot problems, support missions
Salary: $90K - $150K+
Experience: 3+ years
The Real Talk: Mission operations engineers design how satellites are operated. They create procedures and troubleshoot problems.

Flight Director

What You Do: Lead operations teams, make decisions, coordinate missions
Salary: $120K - $200K+
Experience: 7+ years
The Real Talk: Flight directors lead operations. They make critical decisions and coordinate teams.

Ground Systems Engineer

What You Do: Maintain and operate ground systems, support satellite operations
Salary: $85K - $140K+
Experience: 2+ years
The Real Talk: Ground systems engineers keep the ground infrastructure working. It's critical for operations.

Constellation Operations Manager

What You Do: Manage operations for satellite constellations, coordinate multiple satellites
Salary: $130K - $220K+
Experience: 5+ years
The Real Talk: Constellation operations is new and growing. Managing hundreds or thousands of satellites is complex.

Education Requirements: What You Actually Need

Minimum Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or related field
Experience: Varies by role (1-7+ years)
Skills: Technical skills, problem-solving, attention to detail

The Real Talk: You need a bachelor's degree minimum. Most roles require engineering or physics degrees.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master's degree (helps for senior roles)
Experience: Satellite operations experience, mission operations experience
Skills: Systems engineering, operations experience, leadership

The Real Talk: Master's degrees help, but experience matters more. Get satellite operations experience if you can.

Skills: What You Actually Need

Technical Skills

Essential:
- Satellite systems knowledge
- Ground systems knowledge
- Command and control systems
- Orbital mechanics
- Troubleshooting
- Technical procedures

The Real Talk: You need to understand how satellites work, how ground systems work, and how to troubleshoot problems.

Soft Skills

Essential:
- Problem-solving under pressure
- Communication (clear, concise)
- Teamwork (operations require teams)
- Attention to detail (mistakes can be costly)
- Decision-making (often under pressure)
- Ability to work shifts (24/7 operations)

The Real Talk: Satellite operations requires strong soft skills. You need to communicate clearly, work in teams, and make decisions under pressure.

Career Path: What Your Career Looks Like

Entry Level (0-2 years)

Roles: Satellite Operator, Operations Technician
What You Do: Support operations, monitor systems, execute procedures
Salary: $70K - $90K

The Real Talk: Entry-level roles are support roles. You're learning and supporting more experienced operators.

Mid Level (3-7 years)

Roles: Mission Operations Engineer, Senior Operator
What You Do: Design procedures, troubleshoot problems, lead teams
Salary: $90K - $130K

The Real Talk: Mid-level roles are more independent. You're designing procedures and leading teams.

Senior Level (7+ years)

Roles: Flight Director, Operations Manager, Constellation Manager
What You Do: Lead operations, make decisions, manage teams
Salary: $130K - $220K+

The Real Talk: Senior roles are leadership roles. You're responsible for operations and making critical decisions.

Where Satellite Operations Jobs Are

Major Operations Centers

Mission Control Centers:
- NASA centers (JSC, KSC, etc.)
- Commercial operations centers
- International operations centers

Ground Stations:
- Satellite ground stations worldwide
- Remote locations
- Urban locations

The Real Talk: Most satellite operations jobs are at operations centers or ground stations. You might need to relocate.

Companies Hiring

SpaceX: Starlink operations, massive constellation
Planet Labs: Earth observation constellation
Rocket Lab: Small satellite operations
NASA: Mission operations
Commercial Operators: Many companies operating satellites

The Real Talk: All major satellite companies are hiring. Pick based on what you want: large constellations, small satellites, or government missions.

What Satellite Operations Is Actually Like

Day-to-Day Life

Normal Operations:
- Monitor satellite health
- Execute planned procedures
- Coordinate with teams
- Maintain systems
- Plan future operations

Anomaly Response:
- Quick problem-solving
- High pressure
- Team coordination
- Critical decision-making
- Long hours

The Real Talk: Most days are routine. But when things go wrong, it's intense. You need to solve problems quickly under pressure.

The Challenges

What's Hard:
- Shift work (24/7 operations)
- High pressure (satellites are expensive)
- Stress (mistakes can be costly)
- Long hours (during anomalies)
- Constant monitoring (always watching)

The Real Talk: Satellite operations is demanding. You work shifts, handle pressure, and need to be always alert.

The Rewards

What's Amazing:
- You operate satellites (that's pretty cool)
- You're part of important missions
- You work with amazing people
- You solve complex problems
- You contribute to space exploration

The Real Talk: Satellite operations is incredible. You're literally controlling satellites in space. It's a unique and rewarding career.

Recent Satellite Industry News (2025)

Constellation Growth: Massive growth in satellite constellations:
- Starlink: Over 6,000 satellites, 7.6 million subscribers
- Planet Labs: Earth observation constellation
- Google Project Suncatcher: 81 AI-powered satellites planned

Commercial Growth: Commercial satellites now dominate space:
- Commercial sector: 78% of $613B space economy
- Record launches: Every 28 hours in first half of 2025
- New capabilities: Direct to Cell, Earth observation, data centers

The Real Talk: The satellite industry is booming. More satellites mean more operations jobs.

How to Get Into Satellite Operations

Step 1: Get the Education

What You Need: Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics
What Helps: Master's degree, space-related coursework

The Real Talk: Get an engineering or physics degree. That's the foundation.

Step 2: Get Experience

Internships: Get internships at satellite companies or NASA
Projects: Work on satellite projects, cubesat projects
Research: Do research related to satellite operations

The Real Talk: Experience matters. Get satellite-related experience if you can.

Step 3: Network

How:
- Attend space conferences
- Join professional organizations
- Connect with people in satellite operations
- Reach out to satellite companies

The Real Talk: Network. Most jobs are filled through connections.

Step 4: Apply

Where: Satellite companies, NASA, commercial operators
What to Highlight: Satellite experience, technical skills, problem-solving

The Real Talk: Apply to satellite companies. Highlight any satellite-related experience.

Is Satellite Operations Right for You?

Satellite Operations Might Be Right If:
- You want to operate satellites
- You can handle shift work
- You're detail-oriented
- You work well in teams
- You can make decisions under pressure

Satellite Operations Might Not Be Right If:
- You need regular 9-5 hours
- You can't handle stress
- You want to work alone
- You can't handle shift work
- You need immediate gratification

The Real Talk: Satellite operations is demanding, but also incredible. Be honest about what you can handle.

Conclusion: Your Path to Satellite Operations

Satellite operations is one of the most important careers in space. You're operating satellites that provide critical services. But it's also demanding. Shift work, high pressure, and everything must work perfectly.

Your Action Plan:
1. Get the Education: Engineering or physics degree minimum
2. Get Experience: Satellite-related experience if possible
3. Network: Connect with people in satellite operations
4. Apply: Apply to satellite companies and NASA

The Real Talk: Satellite operations is achievable. Get the education, get experience, network, and apply. You can do it.

Ready to start your satellite operations career? Browse satellite and spacecraft operations jobs or learn more about space careers. And hey—maybe one day you'll be the one commanding satellites in space. 🚀