Varda Space
Mission Operations Engineer
El Segundo, California, United States$120k–$170kmidAdded today
About this role
Varda seeks a Mission Operations Engineer to develop and execute on-orbit spacecraft operations for commercial space missions. You'll own the complete mission lifecycle from planning through execution, build operational tools, and scale capabilities as flight cadence increases.
What you'll do
- Develop, coordinate, and execute Varda's on-orbit missions from conception through completion
- Own full operations development cycle for mission-unique payloads including mission profiles and execution
- Collaborate across engineering teams to improve mission operations and ensure success
- Build web-based tools to automate and reduce operational burden
- Scale operational capabilities to support increasing flight cadence
- Lead real-time spacecraft operations and decision-making during missions
What they're looking for
- Spacecraft systems and avionics knowledge
- Real-time operations in complex, high-consequence environments
- Python, JavaScript, and HTML software development
- Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) systems familiarity
- Thermal and power systems design understanding
- Leadership and cross-functional communication
- Git and Atlassian tools (preferred)
- Ground station network operations (preferred)
Benefits
- Salary: $120,000 - $170,000 annually
- Equity stock options
- Flexible PTO policy plus 12 paid holidays
- On-site position in El Segundo, CA headquarters with production facility
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
- Opportunity to own and shape new mission operations framework
Likely interview questions
- Describe your most complex real-time operations experience and how you ensured mission success under pressure.
- Walk us through how you would develop an operations plan for a spacecraft payload you'd never operated before.
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