Staff Mission Operations Engineer
About The Position
Turion is developing vertically integrated hardware and software for the space economy, including DROID space vehicles and Starfire software for simulation, modeling, planning, and operations. The Staff Mission Operations Engineer will join the team in Irvine, California, and lead the development, integration, and execution of mission operations across the spacecraft lifecycle, with particular emphasis on GEO Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO). The role is the senior operational integrator between engineering and flight teams, ensuring operational constraints, procedures, risk mitigations, and readiness activities are defined, validated, and aligned with mission objectives. The engineer will lead real-time operations and anomaly response; establish operational standards and architecture; coordinate across teams and improve processes; and provide technical leadership and mentorship to strengthen the operations team. The role may require support for alternate or extended shifts and travel during peak work periods.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of experience in mission operations, spacecraft operations engineering, or related aerospace operations roles.
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
- Prior GEO operational experience, RPO/RPOD experience, and/or mission-planning experience.
- Expert-level understanding of mission operations concepts, including constraints, procedures, ground systems, anomalies, and test-to-flight workflows.
- Experience owning and developing operational processes, procedures, flight rules, and constraints.
- Experience leading operational activities, rehearsals, and real-time operations across multiple mission phases.
- Demonstrated technical leadership, including leading operational projects to completion and mentoring engineers.
- Strong cross-disciplinary communication skills and the ability to build alignment between engineering and operations teams.
- Ability to work autonomously and solve complex technical and operational issues with little oversight.
- Must be a U.S. citizen with the ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance.
Nice To Haves
- At least 6 years of experience in mission operations, spacecraft operations engineering, or related aerospace operations roles.
- Experience across the full lifecycle of a space mission, including design, integration, testing, rehearsals, commissioning, and operations.
- Experience establishing operational approaches for a new vehicle, new mission type, or first-of-kind operation.
- Working proficiency with mission risk frameworks, including hazards, FMEA, and fault trees, and with readiness assessments.
- Scripting experience in Python or Ruby for operations automation, analysis, or workflow improvements.
- Enthusiasm for working on small, fast-paced teams in rapidly evolving mission environments.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the principal subject-matter expert for mission operations and lead tactical execution, including command sequencing, real-time decision-making, and anomaly response during testing, rehearsals, and on-call operations.
- Lead operational development and execution of GEO RPO/RPOD missions, including proximity-operations processes and procedures, abort and safing FDIR strategies, and constraints and flight rules for close-proximity decisions.
- Lead cross-team project and mission execution with systems engineering, GNC, software, and ground teams; influence spacecraft and ground-system design for operability and ensure operational implications are reflected in interfaces, requirements, and mission-planning products.
- Define, evaluate, document, and validate operational constraints across mission phases, updating them as requirements, risks, or designs change.
- Establish standards for operational procedures, flight rules, and operator workflows; lead their development, improvement, and validation.
- Lead and contribute to mission risk assessments by identifying operational risks and gaps, proposing mitigations, and ensuring operational considerations inform design and mission decisions.
- Drive mission readiness by identifying preparation risks, closing operational gaps, validating tools and processes, and preparing teams for rehearsals and flight.
- Mentor Senior and Mission Operations Engineers and lead development of operator training, certification, and onboarding materials.
- Provide guidance and constructive feedback to build technical depth across the operations team.
Benefits
- Company stock/equity.
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents.
- 401(k) plan with a 3% employer direct contribution.
- Vacation days, personal days, sick days, and holidays.
- Paid parental leave following the birth of a newborn or adoption.
- No-cost Employee Assistance Program for employees and their households.
- Internal training, workshops, and courses for professional development.
- Social events, team outings, and company-sponsored activities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
