Senior/Staff Space Mission Operations Engineer

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior/Staff Space Mission Operations Engineer to lead the design, analysis, integration, and verification of the space mission’s ground segment and operations. In this role, you will collaborate with world‑class scientists—including Nobel Prize laureates—as well as engineers and global partners to develop a cutting‑edge space observatory to enable groundbreaking astrophysical discoveries. As a Senior/Staff Space Mission Operations Engineer, you will be the primary architect and operator for the "day‑in‑the‑life" of our upcoming astrophysics observatory. You will be a critical owner and stakeholder in the design, implementation, and verification of the Ground Segment, ensuring that the spacecraft, the science instruments, and the ground stations function as a seamless infrastructure. You will transition from a designer/builder during the development phase to the Lead Operator once the mission is on orbit. You will help ensure successful on‑orbit Observatory commissioning during LEOPs and routine operations during the science operations phase of the mission. Key Responsibilities Lead the architectural design of the Mission Operations Center (MOC) and interface to the Science Operations Center (SOC), and define and manage Level 3 and 4 ground‑operations requirements for telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C), data downlink, flight dynamics, and other systems. Oversee deployment of the data‑network infrastructure to provide low‑latency, high‑availability links between the MOC, SOC, and ground‑station providers. Ensure cybersecurity protocols for command encryption and secure data archiving are implemented and maintained. Support the development and maintenance of interface control documents (ICDs). Set up mission‑operations software for the MOC‑SOC interface and monitor telemetry in real time. Build tools for spacecraft component/subsystem modeling (e.g., battery, slew, spacecraft bus, payload, and observatory integration & test). Travel to spacecraft‑bus and payload‑provider facilities to conduct hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HWIL) testing prior to delivery. Lead end‑to‑end (ETE) tests to verify that ground commands trigger spacecraft actions and that science data is successfully downlinked. Lead operational testing for flight software and ground software prior to deployment. Lead operator‑training and procedure‑validation using ground simulators and virtual‑environment test conductors; write test procedures/scripts and perform data processing. Own the Flight Operations Manual (FOM) and develop, test, and validate nominal and contingency flight‑operations procedures. Design and execute operational readiness tests (ORTs) and mission rehearsals to certify the flight team for launch. Support the science‑operations team as the spacecraft‑engineering liaison and work closely with both the science‑operations team and the spacecraft‑operations team. Lead mission‑operations on‑console activities throughout the mission’s lifetime. Assist with flight‑dynamics support, including orbit determination and maneuver planning; coordinate with orbit‑conjunction‑coordination organizations. Establish a long‑term trending database to monitor spacecraft degradation (e.g., battery capacity, solar‑array efficiency) over the mission life. Lead telemetry‑and‑spacecraft‑log analysis to investigate and resolve anomalies. Manage configuration control of flight‑software loads and ground‑database parameters. Qualifications B.S. in Aerospace, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical field. At least 5 + years in spacecraft development and/or operations, ground‑segment development, and/or spacecraft integration & test. Experience in operational environments such as space, air, manufacturing, nuclear, etc. Proficiency in scripting languages (Python, Perl) for telemetry processing and automation. Experience with mission‑control software (e.g., MAX Ground, COSMOS, ITOS, or OpenMCT). Experience with data‑visualization tools (e.g., Grafana). Ability to travel up to 25 – 50 % during peak integration and testing phases. Familiarity with spacecraft systems and the space environment. Strong collaboration skills and ability to work independently on concurrent tasks. Self‑motivated and capable of working in mission‑critical environments, making risk‑based decisions. Preferred Experience Experience with astrophysics or deep‑space missions (L2, cis‑lunar, or interplanetary). Experience with AI/ML workflows. Prior experience in a "start‑up" or fast‑paced "NewSpace" company. Compensation $150,000 – $215,000 a year This is an exempt position. Additional Information This role requires access to U.S. export‑controlled information. Candidates must be a U.S. person (i.e., a citizen of the United States, a permanent resident, or a legal asylee or refugee) or receive approval from the U.S. Government to work with U.S. export‑controlled information. #J-18808-Ljbffr Project Pearl