Varda Space Industries
Space Mission Operations Engineer, Python
About this role
Varda seeks a Space Mission Operations Engineer to develop, coordinate, and execute on-orbit missions for their Winnie Spaceship. You'll own the full operational lifecycle from mission planning through execution, build automation tools in Python, and scale operations as flight cadence grows.
What you'll do
- Develop, coordinate, execute, and lead on-orbit missions for Varda spacecraft
- Own full ops development cycle for mission-unique payloads from design through execution
- Build web-based tools and automation to reduce operational burden using Python
- Collaborate across engineering disciplines to improve mission operations and ensure success
- Scale operational capabilities to support increasing flight frequency
- Lead real-time spacecraft operations during critical mission phases
What they're looking for
- Python software development
- Real-time operations and mission planning
- Spacecraft systems and avionics knowledge
- JavaScript and HTML web development
- GNC, thermal, and software design familiarity
- Leadership and cross-functional communication
- Git and Atlassian tools experience
- Ground station networks understanding
Benefits
- Flexible PTO policy with 12 paid holidays
- Stock options under Company Equity Incentive Plan
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
- On-site work in El Segundo, CA with modern facility
- Opportunity to shape new mission operations framework
- Work with experienced team from SpaceX, Blue Origin, and major aerospace firms
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Varda Space Industries
Varda Space Industries builds commercial spacecraft and orbital manufacturing systems for missions in low Earth orbit, including reentry capsules and satellite buses. The company is hiring mission operations engineers, software engineers (ground segment, flight, and embedded), and manufacturing engineers to develop mission-critical systems, operational infrastructure, and scalable production capabilities.
- Website
- varda.com
Likely interview questions
- Walk us through your experience managing real-time operations for a complex, high-consequence system—what was your role and what challenges did you overcome?
- Describe a time you automated a repetitive operational process. What tools did you use and what was the impact?