This Satellite Operations team performs real-time operation, monitoring, and command and control of the Iridium constellation and ground system, including execution of planned activities and recovering from anomalies, as well as orbit determination, mission planning and collision-avoidance functions.

Iridium satellites operate through subsystems such as power, attitude control, thermal, and communications. The Space Engineering team’s subsystem experts respond to satellite issues as well as develop software features that improve satellite performance, safety, and maintainability.

Iridium designs and develops transceivers that enable users to connect to the Iridium satellite constellation. The Product Engineering team is responsible for the transceiver life cycle, from requirements, design, and test to production and sustainment. Team members build and maintain test and production systems, software tools, developer kits, and documentation.

Iridium space and ground systems are constantly evolving. The Integration and Test team ensures all system changes are vetted before operational deployment by testing software and/or hardware changes in a lab environment. The team interacts with high-fidelity simulators as well as hardware-in-the-loop testing using satellite engineering models.

The Gateway hosts the critical infrastructure that maintains all Iridium services. The Gateway Ops team monitors system and service health in a 24/7/365 environment and responds to any anomalies. They also execute system and network preventive maintenance procedures and implement system upgrades, updates, and configuration changes to minimize service disruption.

Iridium creates and maintains the software aboard Iridium satellites, along with ground software used for satellite command and telemetry. The Space and Ground Engineering team oversees the entire software lifecycle, including requirements, design, testing, production, and support. Team members also develop and manage environments, tools, and documentation essential for effective software operations.

The team is crucial in supporting partner product development for the Iridium network, assisting with onboarding, certification guidance, and ensuring product standards through design reviews and testing. 

Their application engineering area offers technical support through a service desk, addressing partner inquiries during product development. They also provide real-time customer service engineering support and engage in alpha and beta trials to refine products and services.