Senior Manager, Spacecraft Systems

Vast•Long Beach, CA

3h•$170,000 - $242,000•Onsite

About The Position

Vast is seeking a Senior Manager, Spacecraft Operations to support development of the systems needed to design and build human-rated space stations. Reporting to the VP of Mission Operations, this full-time, exempt position is based on-site at Vast’s headquarters in Long Beach, California. The role is responsible for planning and successfully executing Vast’s crewed and uncrewed spacecraft missions. The Senior Manager will lead mission operations engineers through all phases of operations, from early mission and vehicle design and concept of operations through activation and checkout, on-orbit operations, payloads and science, anomaly resolution, and end-of-life decommissioning or deorbit. The role includes leadership and administrative duties as well as support for 24/7 console operations. Working with vehicle, payload, mission operations, and ground software engineers from the earliest spacecraft architecture trades, this position ensures operational needs are incorporated into spacecraft and ground systems. The Senior Manager sets technical standards for safe, reliable, and efficient operations and builds the processes, people, and tools needed to scale Vast’s mission cadence. The position may require travel up to 20% and support during nights, weekends, holidays, and critical mission milestones. Applicants must meet the stated U.S.-person eligibility requirements for access to export-controlled information and technology.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, or another engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.
10+ years operating complex systems in spaceflight, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability environments.
Experience in human spaceflight mission operations, such as ISS flight control, commercial crew operations, or a comparable crewed program.
Experience as a flight controller or console operator for a crewed or complex uncrewed vehicle.
3+ years of leadership experience as a people manager, technical lead, or both, including mentoring and developing engineers.
Experience working across engineering disciplines to resolve operational issues.
Experience briefing senior leadership and customers on complex technical issues, including during anomalies, with clear and decisive recommendations.
Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.
Ability to support 24/7 console operations, which may include nights, weekends, and holidays, and additional support during critical mission milestones.
Must be a U.S. person as defined by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (22 CFR § 120.62): a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3).

Nice To Haves

Experience building or substantially reshaping an operations team, process, or system in a fast-moving organization.
Experience in spacecraft design, build, test, and integration environments.
Familiarity with the satellite and/or crew vehicle mission lifecycle from early trades through flight.
Experience developing operations products, including flight rules and procedures.
Experience with mission operations software, automation, or tooling.

Responsibilities

Own operational readiness for multiple crewed and uncrewed missions, ensuring safe and successful outcomes across commissioning, routine operations, anomaly response, and deorbit.
Work with Mission Management to translate customer and internal requirements into a robust Concept of Operations and detailed mission timelines that balance payload, vehicle, and program needs.
Lead the Haven mission operations team by defining roles, responsibilities, interfaces, and operating rhythms that enable fast decisions and clear execution.
Grow the mission operations team to support Haven-1 and Haven Station; hire, mentor, and coach Mission Operations Engineers, providing technical guidance, career development, and performance management.
Lead cross-disciplinary mission operations development, including flight rules, procedures, mission timelines, and go/no-go criteria.
Identify and prioritize improvements to mission operations software and mission systems, and work with ground software and mission systems engineers to deliver scalable upgrades.
Achieve and maintain console certification.
Monitor on-orbit spacecraft performance, triage anomalies, and drive resolution through disciplined escalation and root-cause investigation.
Support 24/7 console shifts for commissioning, critical operations, and anomaly response.
Work cross-functionally with vehicle, payload, mission operations, and ground software engineers to ensure operational needs are designed into spacecraft and ground systems.

Benefits

Company equity for full-time employees.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
Paid time off, including up to 20+ days of vacation for 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.
Employee discounts and other perks.
Free snacks, drip coffee, cold drinks, and dinner meals; subsidized lunch.