Flight Director

Xona; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona seeks a Flight Director to lead real-time operations of our LEO constellation from the Mission Operations team. You will hold final on-console authority for spacecraft commanding from launch through routine operations, overseeing operators and approving procedures for critical events.

You will manage LEOP activities, anomaly responses, and ensure rehearsals and simulations (DITL) are executed before critical events, coordinating across engineering and ground stations.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated anomaly response experience under time pressure with incomplete data.
• Strong knowledge of spacecraft subsystems (TT&C, power, thermal, ADCS/GNC, propulsion, FSW).
• Experience with ground stations and planning contact schedules.
• Excellent verbal communication on console and concise direction.
• Strong writing ability for post-event reports and flight-rule reviews.
• Experience leading or overseeing a team of spacecraft operators.

Responsibilities

• Direct real-time operations, making go/no-go calls for commands and critical events.
• Lead LEOP, commissioning, orbit-raising, and software update campaigns.
• Lead anomaly response: triage, safe the spacecraft, coordinate engineering, drive root cause to closure.
• Review and approve flight rules, SOPs, contingency plans, and escalation paths.
• Oversee operator training, certifications, rehearsals, and simulations (DITL) on Flatsat.
• Coordinate activities across spacecraft engineering, FSW, GNC, and ground stations.
• Review and approve mission plans and command products before uplink.
• Oversee a team of operators and on-call rotation; act as escalation point.
• Report constellation health, operational risk, and post-event findings to leadership.

Skills

Anomaly response

Time-pressure decisions

Subsystems knowledge TT&C power ADCS/G

Ground station coordination

Clear console communication

Procedures review & post-event reports

Team leadership / supervision

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.