Mission Operations Engineer II - Ground Segment

Vast • Long Beach, CA

6h • Onsite

About The Position

Vast is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer II for its Ground Segment, reporting to the Lead Mission Operations Engineer, Mission Systems. The role supports planning and execution of Vast missions and works across engineering disciplines from early spacecraft design through on-orbit decommissioning. The engineer designs systems and authors procedures for operating spacecraft and supporting ground systems, enabling coordinated spacecraft-ground communications and operations and ensuring the integrity and validity of commands and telemetry.

This full-time, exempt position is based in Long Beach, California. The engineer will contribute to spacecraft and ground operations planning, testing, mission execution, telemetry analysis, and continuous improvement. The position may support 24/7 operations during intense mission phases, require travel up to 20%, and involve overtime or weekend work for critical mission milestones. The role requires the ability to lift up to 25 pounds unassisted. The person hired must meet U.S. export-control eligibility requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, software engineering, or another engineering discipline.
• At least 3 years of experience operating complex systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with other engineering disciplines.
• Ability to think critically in high-stress environments and rapidly evolving situations.
• Ability to communicate critical engineering and technical information effectively and clearly.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Willingness to support 24/7 operations during operationally intense mission phases.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.
• Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds unassisted.
• Must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in human spaceflight mission operations.
• Master of Science degree in a technical field.
• At least 1 year working in a spacecraft design, build, and test environment.
• Technical knowledge of spacecraft systems engineering, including avionics, propulsion, attitude control, communications, orbital mechanics, life support, thermal control, and power control systems.
• Technical knowledge of space-to-ground communication systems, including RF, ground stations, modems, and antenna systems.
• Experience building or designing a system, process, and team from scratch to perform complex aerospace-system operations, such as for a launch vehicle, satellite, or crew capsule.
• Software engineering skills in C++, Golang, JavaScript, React, software architecture, databases, or cloud technologies.
• Matlab or Python/Octave proficiency.
• Proficiency using the command line and scripting languages.
• Strong technical writing skills.
• Strong mentorship and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of high-impact initiatives with engineers across disciplines to develop spacecraft and ground operations procedures, flight rules, products, and processes that support safe and successful spacecraft operations.
• Provide technical and operational leadership in planning and executing pre-flight testing and ground-system checkouts to ensure spacecraft and ground systems are flight-ready.
• Assist with operations for crewed and uncrewed missions, including vehicle commissioning, on-orbit operations, anomaly resolution, and spacecraft deorbit.
• Analyze vehicle and ground-system telemetry and provide informed summaries and recommendations to mission stakeholders.
• Develop and lead workflows that improve processes and systems for Mission Operations while maintaining Vast’s standards of excellence.
• Contribute to iterative improvements to Mission Systems, Mission Operations Software, and other ground processes, collaborating with Mission Systems Engineering and Ground Software Engineering.
• Work with Mission Management to translate customer requirements into a Concept of Operations that balances stakeholder needs.
• Support and mentor peer Mission Operations Engineers by providing input informed by operational experience and best practices.

Benefits

• Company equity for full-time employees.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
• Paid time off, including up to 20+ vacation days for exempt staff and up to 10+ vacation days for non-exempt staff, with the ability to cash out unused vacation annually.
• Paid parental leave.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
• ClassPass credits.
• Personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health.
• Other discounts and perks.
• Free snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals; subsidized lunch.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level