Mission Operations Engineer (Entry-Level) - Millennium Space Systems

Boeing • Chantilly, VA

1d

About The Position

Millennium Space Systems, a part of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, is a small satellite company focused on national security space missions, including missile warning and Earth observation. The Mission Operations Engineer serves as the lead technical authority for Millennium’s on-orbit spacecraft and supports the full mission lifecycle—from proposal and mission design through vehicle integration and testing, launch, on-orbit operations, and decommissioning. The role includes defining operational concepts, developing on-orbit procedures, and creating mission-specific methods of spacecraft operation. It requires composure in high-pressure situations, knowledge of spacecraft and ground systems, and the ability to respond to anomalies in real time. The position’s internal job code is Systems Engineer, and the team is hiring at Level 1–2.

The engineer supports launch and early-orbit commissioning, mission and ground-segment design, spacecraft autonomy and fault-response implementation, operational automation, simulator and flight-vehicle testing, and critical ground-segment tests. The role also contributes to customer briefings, mission event planning, anomaly response, and mission rehearsals. The position requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field, experience with real-time satellite command-and-control operations, and demonstrated knowledge of satellite subsystems, ground systems, space missions, and CONOPS design. The employee must be willing to support 24/7 operations when required, be a U.S. citizen able to obtain a U.S. security clearance, and satisfy the company’s conflict-of-interest assessment process.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, or a non-U.S. equivalent directly related to the work.
• Experience with real-time satellite command-and-control operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of satellite subsystems, ground systems, space missions, and CONOPS design.
• Willingness to support 24/7 operations as required and occasional off-nominal working hours during critical 24/7 mission operations activities.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for the clearance.
• Must be willing to apply for and maintain a security clearance; an interim and/or final U.S. Secret clearance post-start is required.
• Must satisfy the company’s Conflict of Interest assessment process.
• Must meet U.S. export-control compliance requirements; the posting specifies a U.S. Person as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62.
• Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.

Nice To Haves

• For Level 2, two or more years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience.
• Master’s degree in a STEM-related field.
• Extended knowledge of satellite systems engineering and satellite subsystems, including Guidance, Navigation, and Control; Electrical Power; Thermal Control; Telemetry, Tracking, and Command; and Propulsion.
• Experience with spacecraft command-and-control software systems.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams, especially to resolve anomalous scenarios.
• Familiarity with software and scripting tools such as MATLAB, Python, C/C++, or Java.

Responsibilities

• Support spacecraft and subsystem engineers during launch and early-orbit activities to commission spacecraft for service.
• Act as lead technical authority during mission operations for the space and ground segments.
• Support the full mission lifecycle, including proposal and mission modeling, design, integration and test, shipment, launch, on-orbit operations, and decommissioning.
• Assist with ground and mission operations requirements and flow mission requirements to the spacecraft team.
• Develop mission concepts of operation and design reference missions.
• Catalog lessons learned from on-orbit exercises to inform future vehicle designs.
• Support ground-segment design, including command and control, mission planning, mission data processing, and supporting infrastructure.
• Implement and test spacecraft fault management and autonomy, including fault detection and response, autonomous behavior, and onboard command and control.
• Implement operational automation methods to reduce day-to-day operator responsibilities.
• Assist in creating and executing spacecraft simulator tests to validate mission, fault, and autonomy designs.
• Assist in creating and executing in-factory flight-vehicle tests to validate mission-design compatibility with flight hardware.
• Conduct ground-segment tests, including radio-frequency compatibility, remote ground-facility interface, and critical ground-asset acceptance testing.
• Support the anomaly-response team when off-nominal vehicle conditions arise.
• Contribute to customer briefings and debriefings for orbital events.
• Assist with the mission sequence of events for bus commissioning, payload checkout and calibration, and mission operations.
• Contribute to mission rehearsals to train the mission team and validate mission design.

Benefits

• Competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.
• Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and programs providing paid and unpaid time away from work.
• Relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit for this position.

What This Job Offers

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