Mission Control Specialist

Amentum•Vandenberg AFB, CA

12d

About The Position

Amentum is seeking a Mission Control Specialist for the Space Force Range Contract. The position directs and advises mission operations teams and coordinates technical and administrative support for range operations. The specialist interfaces with Government personnel, Amentum personnel, and launch customers to interpret requirements and develop and present mission support plans. The role supports Western Range launch tests, simulations, rehearsals, and non-test periods, including real-time work-center coordination and monitoring systems during daily, pre-launch, and launch activities. The specialist develops and reviews operational support plans, directives, test plans, technical documentation, and communications configurations; assesses equipment capabilities and system changes against customer and range requirements; and recommends approved process or operational changes to improve data quality and performance. The role also leads planners/controllers, conducts briefings and critiques, reports system status, and documents system failures and other required operational information. The annual starting compensation is $62.00 per hour. Starting pay may vary according to geography, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications, and is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Amentum lists health, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off and holidays; retirement benefits including 401(k) matching; educational reimbursement; parental leave; an employee stock purchase plan; tax-saving options; disability and life insurance; and pet insurance. Benefits may vary by employment type, location, and applicable agreements.

Requirements

Six or more years of experience working with technical or instrumentation systems; telemetry or radar systems experience is preferred.
Associate degree in a related technical field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, experience, or related military experience.
Completed Planner/Controller EQR qualifications.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook.
Strong motivation, initiative, and ability to work independently.
Ability to logically and rapidly analyze operational system problems, develop acceptable alternate or contingency support plans, and/or accurately direct control-center personnel in real-time corrective actions.
Interpersonal skills to facilitate technical direction to personnel supporting daily and mission operations.
Good oral and written communication skills, with excellent personal relations and professional qualities.
Working knowledge of the Universal Documentation System and Air Force Space Manuals.
Flexibility to work non-duty hours or weekends to support specific project or mission requirements.
Ability to interpret requirements and convert them into action plans.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Government clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain the clearance.

Nice To Haves

Experience with telemetry or radar systems.
Knowledge of Western Range launch operations.

Responsibilities

Direct and advise mission operations team activities from technical and administrative perspectives.
Direct and develop technical support requirements for telemetry, metric/radar, optics, command transmitters, weather, data centers, and communications.
Interface with Government personnel, Amentum personnel, and launch customers; interpret and communicate government and customer requirements.
Direct and lead a team of planners/controllers.
Prepare and present technical mission support plans.
Analyze, plan, review, revise, and develop technical documentation for Western Range daily and mission support communications configurations, including PRD, PSP, OD, and VPS’s.
Develop operational support plans, operational directives, and test plans to evaluate new and existing systems.
Evaluate equipment capabilities against current and future range customer requirements.
Review system-readiness engineering changes and their impact on planning for launch and operational requirements.
Review Operational Acceptance Recommendations (OAR) and Operational Acceptance Memoranda (OAM) for system-readiness changes and their effects on planning.
Recommend changes to Amentum Program Managers to improve data quality or quantity through more efficient use of range systems or facilities.
Propose alternate methods of obtaining coverage when requirements exceed existing instrumentation capabilities.
Review range schedules in advance to confirm instrumentation and customer requirements can be met for the relevant Range Item subsystem.
Conduct pre-test briefings and post-test critiques.
Provide documentation and real-time work-center coordination and systems-controller support to the Western Range during launch tests, simulations, and non-test periods; ensure sites understand procedures during tests and simulations.
Review test-support documentation and system requirements to confirm appropriate system-status calls and response priorities.
Report system status in accordance with SOI Reporting Range Systems Status during launch operations and mission rehearsals.
Recommend and implement approved changes to operating procedures or methods to improve data quality and performance for future tests.
Prepare ad hoc reports and procedures.
Understand known or suspected system failures and ensure actions are documented professionally and promptly in accordance with Amentum requirements.
Monitor the performance and status of all systems during on-console activities, including daily, pre-launch, and launch activities.
Perform planning and operational duties as a qualified Mission Control Specialist, Mission Controller, and other planner/controller positions as required.
Perform other duties as assigned.