Senior Mission Operations Engineer - Ground Segment

VastLong Beach, CA
$137,000 - $230,000Onsite

About The Position

Vast is looking for a Senior Mission Operations Engineer to become a foundational member of the Ground Segment group within the Mission Operations team and support planning and execution of Vast missions. This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, software engineering, or other engineering discipline
  • 5+ years of experience in the operation of complex systems
  • Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with other engineering disciplines
  • Demonstrated ability to to critically think in high stress environments and rapidly evolving situations
  • Ability to disseminate critical engineering & technical information effectively and clearly
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong demonstrated technical leadership ability
  • Willing to support 24/7 operations during mission critical phases

Nice To Haves

  • Experience in human spaceflight mission operations
  • Master’s degree in a technical field
  • 3+ years working in a spacecraft design, build, and test environment
  • Technical knowledge in spacecraft systems engineering (avionics, propulsion, attitude control, communications, orbital mechanics, life support systems, thermal and power control systems)
  • Technical knowledge in Space-to-Ground Communication Systems (RF, Ground Stations, Modems, Antenna Systems)
  • Experience building from scratch a system, process and team to perform complex operations of an aerospace system (launch vehicle, satellite, crew capsule)
  • Software Engineering Skills (C++, Golang, Javascript, React, Software Architecture, Databases, Cloud)
  • Matlab or Python/Octave Proficiency
  • Proficient at using the command line and scripting languages
  • Strong Technical Writing skills
  • Strong mentorship and leadership skills

Responsibilities

  • Take extreme ownership of large impact initiatives working with engineers across disciplines to support the development of spacecraft operations & ground operations procedures, flight rules, products & processes, culminating in the safe & successful operations of a newly launched spacecraft
  • Provide technical and operational leadership as the operations expert in planning for and execution of pre-flight testing and checkouts of ground systems to ensure spacecraft and ground systems are ready for flight
  • Assist with leading the operations of Vast’s crewed and uncrewed missions for vehicle commissioning, on-orbit operations, anomaly resolution and final deorbit of the spacecraft
  • Perform deep-dive analysis of vehicle & ground system telemetry and deliver informed summaries as well as recommendations to mission stakeholders for further review & analysis
  • Formulate and lead the execution of workflows facilitating improvements to processes & systems with a focus on advancing Vast’s Mission Operations while maintaining Vast’s commitment to excellence
  • Strategize plans for and lead efforts to iteratively improve the Mission Systems, Mission Operations Software and other ground processes and collaborate with the Mission Systems Engineering & Ground Software Engineering teams to implement them
  • Work closely with Mission Management to ensure customer requirements are translated to a Concept of Operations that balances all needs
  • Mentor & coach junior Mission Operations Engineers, offering guidance and recommendations to ongoing workflows

Benefits

  • company equity
  • 100% medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
  • generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation 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
  • exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge
  • lunch subsidized
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