Launch Engineer - Ground Operations

About the role

At Stoke, we are building Nova, a fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle designed for daily flight. This role involves developing, commissioning, and operating new launch systems from scratch, and serving as a key member of the ground operations team for test and orbital launch campaigns.

Responsibilities

• On-console control of launch ground systems
• Own launch readiness, day-of launch console operations, and test & launch campaigns for ground systems
• Serve as main point of contact for anomaly investigations and own anomaly response and closure for ground systems
• Develop, maintain, and execute procedures, control logic, and automation sequencing for ground systems
• Develop and implement test plans and procedures, complete data reviews, and oversee launch readiness reviews for launch site operations
• Perform real time and post operation data reviews for the ground systems
• Work closely with vehicle software team, and help architect launch automation
• Cook up and coordinate with multiple departments and disciplines, including headquarters and test, inclusive of software and hardware, to ensure the launch complex is ready to receive, process, integrate and operate high cadence flight hardware
• Develop, build, operate, and maintain supporting launch facilities including launch control center
• Continuously improve launch operations and functions to enable high-cadence launch and recovery operations
• Provide engineering expertise, oversight, and hands-on support during day-to-day site operations
• Serve as on-console support or pad lead for day-to-day launch pad operations
• Ensure operations are performed in accordance with industry best practices and EHS policies to reduce or eliminate risk to personnel

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience as a test site operations engineer, launch site operations engineer, ground controller, and/or flight vehicle controller or equivalent experience with similar high-performance applications (aircraft, missile systems, naval, oil & gas, energy systems, etc)
• Strong engineering fundamentals across multiple disciplines (thermodynamics, fluids, software, electrical, and/or structures)
• Ability to troubleshoot problems and implement solutions real time
• Experience utilizing and enforcing EHS policies including fall protection, lockout/tagout, confined space, hot work, job site safety, hazmat, and waste streams
• Experience operating and calibrating EHS tools utilized in a launch complex environment including hazardous gas detectors, FLIR cameras, and sound meters
• Willing and able to travel up to 20% of the time to Stoke HQ and Moses Lake Test Site to help ensure seamless Cape Launch Site operations
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Ability to lead
• Ability to follow

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience as a test site operations engineer, launch site operations engineer, ground controller, and/or flight vehicle controller or equivalent experience with similar high-performance applications (aircraft, missile systems, naval, oil & gas, energy systems, etc)
• Experience working hazardous operations including operations with high pressure gas systems, cryogenic liquid systems, high power systems, and/or explosive ordnance
• Experience performing hazardous analyses for cryogenic and high-pressure gas systems
• Experience working test and operations of systems involving integration of software, electrical, mechanical, and fluid systems
• Experience with data acquisition and control systems and sensing elements (pressure, temperature, accelerometers, load cells, infrared, optical, strain gauges, flow meters, etc)
• Proficient with Python programming language is desirable
• Familiarity with AFSPCMAN 91-710, MSPSP, and HazOp range requirements as well as DoD explosive siting for launch vehicle programs
• Experience working with 45th SW, 30th SW, and/or NASA and other government agencies