Senior Mission Operations Engineer

About the role

The Senior Mission Operations Engineer will lead mission operations across the spacecraft lifecycle, integrating engineering, ground software, and flight teams. This role requires technical and operational expertise, cross-disciplinary communication, and the ability to drive operational readiness.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level technical and operational expertise across all mission operations activities.
• Plan and coordinate cross-team project and mission execution activities.
• Define, evaluate, document, and validate operational constraints.
• Lead development, improvement, and validation of operational procedures, flight rules, and operator workflows.
• Conduct and contribute to mission risk assessments.
• Support tactical operational execution with minimal oversight.
• Maintain mission readiness by identifying prep risks and coordinating closures.
• Drive closure of operational gaps.
• Coordinate interfaces with adjacent teams.
• Contribute to operator training and certification processes.
• Mentor Mission Operations Engineers.

Requirements

• 3+ years' experience in mission operations, spacecraft operations engineering, or related aerospace operations roles.
• Deep understanding of mission operations concepts including constraints, procedures, ground systems, anomalies, and test-to-flight workflows.
• Strong cross-disciplinary communication skills with the ability to interface effectively between engineering and operations teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and solve complex technical and operational issues.
• Experience leading operational activities, rehearsals, or real-time operations.
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.

Qualifications

• Deep understanding of mission operations concepts including constraints, procedures, ground systems, anomalies, and test-to-flight workflows.
• Strong cross-disciplinary communication skills with the ability to interface effectively between engineering and operations teams.
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and solve complex technical and operational issues.
• Experience leading operational activities, rehearsals, or real-time operations.
• Ability to obtain a TS/SCI clearance.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience across the full lifecycle of a space mission (design → integration → testing → rehearsals → commissioning → operations).
• Hands-on experience with mission operations systems, ground software, or operations simulation environments.
• Experience contributing to or developing procedures, flight rules, or constraints.
• Familiarity with mission risk frameworks (hazards, FMEA, fault trees) or readiness assessments.
• Scripting experience (Python, MATLAB) for operations automation, analysis, or workflow improvements.
• Experience with mission planning, console operations, or operations process development.
• Enthusiasm for working on small, fast-paced teams in rapidly evolving mission environments.

Pay

$140,000 - $190,000

Schedule

Full-time