A global technology leader embarked on one of the most ambitious infrastructure initiatives of the decade building a low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation to deliver high-speed internet to underserved regions worldwide. With aggressive timelines in front, they engaged with Akraya for engineering a comprehensive program management solution to orchestrate complex infrastructure expansion.
Challenges Faced
This section outlines the core difficulties and pain points the client was experiencing. It provides context on the hurdles that needed to be overcome before achieving the successful outcome.
Simultaneous Expansion and Active Development
Engineering teams were actively building and testing satellite components while infrastructure expansion was underway. Any disruption during lab moves or facility transitions could delay critical milestones.
Multi-Site Coordination Complexity
Operations needed to be scaled simultaneously, with workcells, labs, and specialized equipment moving in highly coordinated sequences.
Dynamic Timelines and Fragmented Tooling
Project milestones shifted frequently based on engineering progress, requiring continuous recalibration. Multiple tools working in silos- JIRA, Confluence, Smartsheet, MS Project were used across different teams.
Akraya’s Strategic Solution
We engineered a comprehensive program management solution to orchestrate complex infrastructure expansion while preserving engineering continuity -
Akraya moved beyond high-level planning to granular workcell-level move sequencing, enabling clear visibility into dependencies and reducing overlap risk.
Integrated JIRA and Confluence for task tracking and documentation with Smartsheet and MS Project for timeline and dependency management.
Measurable Outcomes
Operational
Successful execution of multi-site lab and infrastructure transitions with no interruption to active satellite component development.
Financial
$28.4M in schedule delay costs avoided by preventing infrastructure-related disruptions that would have impacted satellite deployment milestones.
Business
Electrical engineering, avionics, controls, facilities, and program management teams now operate with unified visibility and accountability.
Conclusion
Akraya orchestrated a complex, multi-site infrastructure expansion for one of the world's most ambitious satellite initiatives without disrupting a single day of engineering work. By implementing workcell-level planning, adaptive scheduling, and unified tooling, we enabled the organization to scale lab environments and operations while preserving the velocity of satellite development.
