Principal Spacecraft Operations Engineer

Salary: $173,300 - 259,850 per year Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in engineering, such as software, computer, electrical, aerospace, or mechanical engineering, or another technical engineering discipline
• 12+ years of direct experience in space mission design, satellite subsystems, ground systems, spacecraft command and control, or spacecraft operations
• 5+ years leading engineering teams through spacecraft missions or related aerospace projects
• Previous experience as a Mission Lead, Mission Director, Flight Director, or Senior Spacecraft Operations Engineer
• Experience supporting mission operations on-console or in an operator-in-the-loop capacity
• Thorough understanding of spacecraft subsystems and components, including ADCS, EPS, space-to-ground communications, C&DH, TCS, propulsion, and FDIR
• Understanding of the space environment, orbital mechanics, and rigid body dynamics
• 5+ years of direct software development experience in Python, Ruby, C, C++, or other high-level languages, including flight scripts, ground automation, and data manipulation or analysis
• U.S. citizenship is required due to program requirements
• Active U.S. Government Secret Security Clearance
• Nice to have: Masters or PhD in an engineering discipline such as software, computer, electrical, aerospace, or mechanical engineering
• Nice to have: Experience in spacecraft operations, satellite system design, or satellite ground systems
• Nice to have: Exposure to modern development practices, including Git, CI/CD, and cloud infrastructure
• Nice to have: Proficiency with Agile issue-tracking tools, particularly Jira
• Nice to have: Exposure to Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) testing frameworks and familiarity with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing frameworks
• Nice to have: Active TS/SCI U.S. Government Security Clearance

• Serve as the programs mission operations technical lead, setting operations strategy, prioritizing the teams work, and acting as the primary operations contact for program-level design decisions and trade-offs
• Champion operability by influencing spacecraft and ground-system architecture so vehicles can be operated safely, efficiently, and autonomously; advocate for design or execution changes when operational needs require them
• Own mission operations requirements and lead their validation and verification for spacecraft missions and system-level capabilities
• Define the automation strategy and lead development of software-driven approaches to operations, testing, and data analysis
• Design, develop, and test flight software sequences and FDIR and telemetry configurations to support spacecraft health and fault management
• Architect, develop, and test ground software for long-duration operations, including scalable scripting and automation frameworks
• Oversee integration, testing, and maintenance of mission operations tools and codebases, including continuous integration, version control, release practices, and operations on-call or shift schedules
• Write and maintain interface specifications, CONOPS, contingency procedures, and other operational design documents
• Lead validation of flight products and procedures using spacecraft simulation tools, including flatsats, HITL, SIL, and digital twins
• Support AIT teams during integrated spacecraft testing, including TVAC, propulsion stack, and DITL activities
• Support programs and products for team leads and program managers, serving as a key technical liaison between engineering teams in New Zealand and the United States
• Represent mission operations at program milestone reviews, design reviews, and readiness gates, and advance continuous improvement through post-mission lessons learned

• Architect
• CI/CD
• Cloud
• Git
• Hardware
• Support
• JIRA
• Python
• Ruby
• Security

More:

We are hiring a Principal Spacecraft Operations Engineer II for our Long Beach, California headquarters, working onsite with our Spacecraft Operations team. Rocket Lab builds rockets, spacecraft, and critical subsystems, while our Space Systems team develops complete spacecraft, payloads, and components for missions including interplanetary exploration, in-space manufacturing, and national security. In this role, you will help ensure the health, safety, and performance of a growing satellite fleet across commercial and government missions, from commissioning and orbit raising through routine operations and potentially re-entry. You will collaborate with spacecraft design, AIT, flight software, propulsion, GNC, flight dynamics, and ground software teams, with opportunities to work across a vertically integrated operation. The position may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and computer work, as well as occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas. Listed compensation is $223,025–$339,400 in total compensation, including a base salary range of $173,300–$259,850; final level and pay depend on job-related skills, education, and experience. We offer company stock, an Employee Stock Purchase Program, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid leave and holidays, parental leave, disability and life insurance, a 401(k) with company match, and additional perks such as EV charging, fitness options, snacks, and employee discounts. Our people work collaboratively and persistently on ambitious missions, embracing innovation, tight deadlines, and shared accountability.

last updated 42 week of 2026