Sr. Mission Operations Engineer

Blue Canyon Technologies • Lafayette, CO

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Blue Canyon Technologies, RTX's small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider, is solving some of the toughest challenges in space. Our components and bus platforms have completed missions ranging from very-low Earth orbits to lunar and interplanetary journeys at a fraction of the cost of traditional space systems. We support premier defense, commercial and civil organizations including the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA, MIT Lincoln Lab, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Colorado and more. Join our innovative and dynamic company as we build, test and operate the small spacecraft of the future.

The Sr. Mission Operations Engineer is a technical leader responsible for owning and executing spacecraft mission operations with a high degree of autonomy. This role contributes across all phases of the satellite life cycle—including pre-launch planning, commissioning, nominal operations, anomaly response, and decommissioning—while serving as the primary mission lead for one or more programs. Senior engineers are expected to represent mission operations in customer-facing engagements, lead cross-disciplinary investigations, drive improvements to automation and tooling, and provide guidance to early-career team members. The position offers opportunities to shape operational strategy, refine mission processes, and contribute to long-term platform and architectural development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field
• 6–10 years of experience in satellite or mission operations, including customer-facing roles
• Demonstrated success leading mission operations through commissioning and anomaly resolution
• Strong understanding of the full satellite mission lifecycle, including CONOPS development, launch, commissioning, nominal operations, and decommissioning
• Experience with operational procedure development, flight product generation, and V&V of ground/flight systems
• Demonstrated ability to lead mission operations independently, including ownership of planning, execution, and cross-team coordination
• Proficiency in writing and reviewing operational ground scripts and utilities
• Excellent problem-solving, troubleshooting, and decision-making skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including experience interfacing with customers and contributing to technical reviews
• Ability to work effectively on both small and large engineering teams in a collaborative, fast-paced environment
• The ability to obtain and maintain a clearance
• Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education

Responsibilities

• Serve as mission lead across all phases of spacecraft operations, including pre-launch planning, launch and commissioning, anomaly response, and routine operations
• Lead the development of mission CONOPS, procedures, and commissioning plans in collaboration with subsystem and ground software teams
• Leverage familiarity of ground command scripts and utilities to support CONOPS execution, troubleshoot issues, and guide the development or refinement of automation tools
• Manage and triage real-time operational anomalies; lead root cause investigations and coordinate cross-team mitigation efforts
• Lead the verification and validation of mission operations requirements for ground and flight segments, ensuring alignment with operational concepts, procedures, and readiness objectives
• Oversee integrated testing of ground and flight systems to validate operational readiness
• Evaluate operational risks and readiness across mission phases; identify limitations in operational plans, procedures, or CONOPS, and propose alternatives to ensure safe and effective mission execution
• Lead technical exchanges with customers and stakeholders; communicate risks, readiness, and mission planning decisions clearly and effectively
• Own the development and maintenance of key mission documentation, including timelines, procedures, training, and customer deliverables
• Identify opportunities to improve mission operations workflows, automation, or tooling, and drive collaboration with operations, subsystem, and ground software teams to deliver scalable, long-term solutions
• Mentor junior and mid-level engineers through code reviews, design feedback, and operations training
• May include personnel management responsibilities
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Benefits

• Employer sponsored health, dental, and vision benefits effective the first of the month following hire date
• Life insurance
• 401k (matching 4% with a minimum 5% contribution)
• Generous PTO (3 weeks of vacation + 3 floating holidays, 2 weeks of sick time, 7 paid holidays throughout the year) and parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees