Flight Director

Xona Space Systems; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona Space Systems in Burlingame, CA seeks a Flight Director to lead real-time operations of its LEO satellite constellation. You will hold final on-console authority for spacecraft commanding across launch, LEOP, and routine operations, and oversee operators who run hands-on operations and execute procedures.

You will review and approve flight rules, operating and test procedures, contingency plans, and escalation paths, while coordinating with GNC, FSW, and ground station providers.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated anomaly response experience, including decisions under time pressure with incomplete data.
• Strong working knowledge of spacecraft subsystems TT&C, power, thermal, ADCS/GNC, propulsion, and FSW.
• Experience working with ground station providers and planning contact schedules.
• Excellent verbal communication on console, with clear and concise direction.
• Strong written skills, with the judgment to review procedures and flight rules and write post-event reports.
• Experience leading or overseeing a team of spacecraft operators.

Responsibilities

• Direct real-time operations, making go/no-go calls for commanding and critical events.
• Lead launch and early orbit phase (LEOP), commissioning, orbit raising, and software update campaigns.
• Lead anomaly response: triage the issue, safe the spacecraft, coordinate engineering, and drive root cause to closure.
• Review and approve flight rules, operating and test procedures, contingency plans, and escalation paths written by the team.
• Oversee operator training and certification, and ensure rehearsals and simulations run (ex: DITL testing) on the Flatsat before critical events.
• Coordinate activities across spacecraft engineering, FSW, GNC, and ground station providers.
• Review and approve mission plans and command products before they are uplinked.
• Oversee a team of operators who run hands-on console operations and the on-call rotation, and serve as their escalation point.
• Report constellation health, operational risk, and post-event findings to engineering and leadership.

Skills

Anomaly response

TT&C knowledge

Propulsion

ADCS/GNC

Power systems

Thermal control

FSW

Ground station planning

Verbal communication

Written communication

Team leadership

Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

Overview

We are seeking a Flight Director to lead real-time operations of our LEO satellite constellation. Sitting on the Mission Operations team, you will hold final on-console authority for spacecraft commanding, from launch and early orbit through routine operations. You will oversee a team of operators who run hands-on operations, and you will review and approve the procedures they work from.

Responsibilities

• Direct real-time operations, making go/no-go calls for commanding and critical events.
• Lead launch and early orbit phase (LEOP), commissioning, orbit raising, and software update campaigns.
• Lead anomaly response: triage the issue, safe the spacecraft, coordinate engineering, and drive root cause to closure.
• Review and approve flight rules, operating and test procedures, contingency plans, and escalation paths written by the team.
• Oversee operator training and certification, and ensure rehearsals and simulations run (ex: DITL testing) on the Flatsat before critical events.
• Coordinate activities across spacecraft engineering, FSW, GNC, and ground station providers.
• Review and approve mission plans and command products before they are uplinked.
• Oversee a team of operators who run hands-on console operations and the on-call rotation, and serve as their escalation point.
• Report constellation health, operational risk, and post-event findings to engineering and leadership.

Required Skills/Qualifications

• Demonstrated anomaly response experience, including decisions made under time pressure with incomplete data.
• Strong working knowledge of spacecraft subsystems, including TT&C, power, thermal, ADCS/GNC, propulsion, and FSW.
• Experience working with ground station providers and planning contact schedules.
• Excellent verbal communication on console, with clear and concise direction.
• Strong written skills, with the judgment to review procedures and flight rules and write post-event reports.
• Experience leading or overseeing a team of spacecraft operators

For U.S. Roles:

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles:

To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles:

Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.