Flight Operations and Training Lead(Clearance Required)

Sierra Space•Centennial, CO

2d•$130,636 - $179,644

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Spacecraft Operations Lead to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in orbital mission planning, mission operations, and spacecraft commissioning. This role requires proficiency in various aspects of mission management, command and control, and mission data processing. The candidate should also have experience with ground systems, mission integration, and launch support.

Requirements

Requires Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or Masters +8 yrs experience).
Typically 10+ years of related experience (or Masters + 8 years of experience).
Demonstrated expertise in Systems Engineering principles and practices, including a comprehensive understanding of the systems development lifecycle.
Progressive experience across the system development life cycle, including requirements management, functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation.
Progressive experience developing systems architecture and performing systems integration, verification and validation (V&V) activities.
Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with technical and specialty subject matter expert engineers to drive systems engineering products.
Ability to travel ocassionally to travel to Colorado Springs, CO.
Active TS/SCI US Government Security Clearance

Nice To Haves

Background in software, hardware engineering, integration, test engineering, or related disciplines.
Proficiency with simulation tools, test benches, or FlatSats.
Experience with Atlassian Tools such as Confluence and Jira.
Ability to train Spacecraft Engineers and Online Operations Engineers effectively.
Proficiency with Command and Control (C2) and mission planning software.
Experience with NASA and US government spacecraft and mission requirements.
Familiarity with government and commercial satellite communications networks and ground systems.
Demonstrated ability to translate requirements into design and solve complex technical challenges.
A record of successful product and mission management.
A combined 10 years’ experience in spacecraft operations, mission profile design, and/or systems engineering.
Capacity to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

Mission Operations: Oversee and guide the team leads responsible for daily spacecraft operations, ensuring continuous mission execution through proactive monitoring of spacecraft health, performance, and telemetry. Empower team leads to manage real‑time decision‑making and direct contingency response activities to maintain mission continuity.
Cross‑Functional Team Integration: Manage and coordinate the efforts of operations, subsystem engineering, ground systems, and mission planning teams. Establish clear communication channels, drive collaborative problem‑solving, and ensure all stakeholders are synchronized with mission objectives and timelines.
Safety, Security, and Compliance Governance: Supervise team leads in their adherence to operational safety, cybersecurity, and risk‑management protocols. Ensure compliance with organizational, regulatory, and industry standards, and lead periodic audits and readiness reviews.
Training, Certification, and Operational Readiness: Oversee the development and evaluation of training programs for flight controllers and subsystem specialists. Maintain a high state of operational readiness through simulations, certification processes, and continuous improvement initiatives.