Operations Manager Solar Orbiter MAG

The Space, Plasma and Climate Community in Imperial College London’s Department of Physics is in search of an Operations Manager to lead the team operating the magnetic field instrument (MAG) on the European Space Agency Solar Orbiter spacecraft.

We build and operate state of the art space instruments for the European Space Agency and NASA.

Are you interested in space exploration and cutting edge science? Do you have an impressive background in writing high quality software for data processing, excellent attention to detail and a proven track record operating critical production software applications? Can you lead the operations of the Solar Orbiter MAG instrument?

The Mission

Solar Orbiter was launched by NASA in 2020, and has spent 4 years in the inner solar system, collecting magnetic field data and performing close fly-bys of the Sun. In February 2025, it will perform a fly-by of Venus to incline its orbit and enable the first ever images of the Sun’s poles.

This role empowers scientists to study the Sun-Earth interaction, the transfer of energy from the Sun into space, space weather and energetic particle acceleration.

Duties and responsibilities

As Operations Manager, you will:

Operate and develop the Python and MATLAB software data pipeline that turns the raw telemetry data from space into high quality public science. You will be a DevOps engineer migrating our code to a new hybrid cloud data platform Craft precise command sequences for the MAG instrument in space, maximising the data we collect and can transmit back to Earth Manage the Data Scientist who will calibrate the science data, together ensuring a reliable delivery of data to the scientific community

The ideal candidate

You have a background in data processing or have worked with experimental data from scientific instrumentation. You are passionate about data integrity and validity and have managed production software environments You have a track record of technical line management or mentoring You have experience in programming in Python or Matlab, ideally in a team environment, using recognised coding standards An interest in space measurements, especially magnetic field data, is highly desirable, however, we are also interested in hearing from data analysts from any field who take pride in doing a good job, excel at problem solving and like to be challenged

Essential requirements

Degree (or equivalent research, industrial or commercial experience) in physics, computer science, engineering, or a closely related discipline with significant exposure to software for science instrumentation or research applications Demonstrated experience of working in a team, ideally in a leadership role, to deliver a technical project within a required deadline Excellent written and verbal communication skills

The prospect of collaborating in a diverse team of intelligent and skilled engineers and scientists at the Imperial College Space Magnetometer Lab, building, testing and operating instruments for NASA and ESAThe chance to routinely command and operate a world class science instrument in spaceThe opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 38 days off a year)