Mission Operations Director

Mission Operations Director Build and implement autonomous, high-reliability spacecraft operations from launch to orbit Location: San Francisco Bay Area Compensation: $100,000 - 180,000 USD / year Job Tags: Strategy & Ops About The Role Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure, and actionable? Then you've come to the right place! At E-Space, we're focused on bridging Earth and space with the world's most sustainable low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. We’re a team of bold thinkers, ambitious leaders and dynamic doers—and we’re disrupting NewSpace by fundamentally changing the design of legacy LEO space systems to deliver entirely new satellite capabilities at a fraction of the cost. We're intentional, we’re unapologetically curious and we’re 100% committed—to saving space, to protecting our planet and to turning connectivity into actionable intelligence. We’re looking for an experienced Director of Mission Operations to lead the teams and technology that power our constellation. In this role, you'll define and execute the strategy for autonomous, high-reliability spacecraft operations — from launch through on-orbit optimization. You'll build the people, processes, and systems that ensure every satellite performs flawlessly and responsibly in orbit. What You Will Be Doing: Lead the Mission Operations organization, encompassing spacecraft operations, GNC, autonomy, and ground system engineering. Own the operational performance and health of the entire constellation — reliability, capacity, and latency. Drive the vision and roadmap for fully autonomous, 'lights‑out' operations that scale without additional headcount. Oversee all launch and commissioning campaigns, ensuring satellites transition smoothly from deployment to routine operations. Partner with Ground Software, GNC, and Systems Engineering teams to architect an integrated, automated operations ecosystem. Develop metrics, dashboards, and telemetry analysis frameworks to monitor constellation performance in real time. Lead the company's Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and conjunction management efforts, coordinating with U.S. Space Force, regulatory bodies, and other operators. Build and mentor a high‑performing, multi‑disciplinary team of mission operators and engineers. Guide operational risk assessment, contingency planning, and anomaly response strategies. Serve as the operational authority in major technical and programmatic decisions under time‑critical conditions. What You Bring To This Role: 8+ years of experience in spacecraft or constellation operations, including leadership of mission operations or GNC teams. Proven success operating or commissioning on‑orbit spacecraft fleets (LEO preferred). Expertise in automation, telemetry, and command systems for satellite constellations. Deep understanding of flight dynamics, GNC, and SSA principles. Experience with ground system architecture, mission planning, and operations tools. Strong background in operational reliability engineering and performance optimization. Hands‑on familiarity with software and scripting languages (Python, MATLAB, C++, or equivalent) for automation and analysis. Excellent leadership, communication, and decision‑making skills in high‑pressure environments. Bonus Points For The Following: Experience building autonomous operations frameworks or 'no human‑in‑the‑loop' systems. Familiarity with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) or Earth observation missions. Prior experience interfacing with Space Force, FCC, NOAA, or international regulatory bodies. Passion for sustainable orbital operations and responsible satellite deployment. This is a full time, exempt position, based out of our Saratoga office. The target base pay for this position is $100,000 - $180,000 annually. The total compensation packaged will be determined by various factors such as your relevant job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. E‑Space is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role. #J-18808-Ljbffr jobs.frontdoordefense.com - Jobboard