Lead Operations Engineer

Menlo Ventures; Colorado; On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity + Benefits

Health, Dental, Vision

PTO and paid holidays

Job summary

True Anomaly is seeking a Lead Operations Engineer to own the Mission Operations contributions for a spacecraft program end to end. You will coordinate across GNC, flight software, FDIR, propulsion, thermal, ground systems, RF, avionics, and EE to deliver a coherent, operable spacecraft and mission.

This technical leadership role requires exceptional engineering fundamentals and deep subsystem knowledge. On‑site work in Colorado Springs/Denver; you will mentor a small team of engineers and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (aerospace/astronautical preferred).
• Roughly 10+ years of experience in the space industry, or equivalent depth.
• Strong engineering fundamentals with demonstrated technical depth across multiple spacecraft subsystems.
• Experience leading small, cross‑functional teams of engineers spanning multiple disciplines.
• Able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret security clearance (U.S. citizenship required).
• Willing to work on‑site in Colorado Springs or Denver.

Responsibilities

• Own all Mission Operations deliverables for a given satellite program — from BD/proposal phase, through CONOPS development and AI&T, into live operations and disposal.
• Serve as the integrating generalist engineer across subsystem teams (GNC, FSW, FDIR, propulsion, thermal, ground, RF, avionics, EE), tying specialist work into a unified, operable mission design.
• Define, scope, and task the Operations team's work for the program — build the plan and drive execution.
• Lead and mentor a small, multidisciplinary team of ~4–5 engineers.
• Contribute engineering and operational content to business development proposals.
• Develop and mature CONOPS from early concept through operations.
• Support AI&T as a systems-level generalist, and lead anomaly investigation and resolution across the program.
• Represent Operations in cross-functional design reviews and program milestones.
• Support critical mission phases (launch, early orbit, RPO events) as needed.

Skills

Systems engineering

Team leadership

GNC

Flight software

Propulsion

Education

Bachelor's in STEM

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Space is a warfighting domain. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build the technology that secures it.

OUR MISSION

True Anomaly delivers decisive capabilities for space superiority. We build autonomous spacecraft, advanced payloads, mission software, and space-based interceptors — enabling the U.S. and its Allies to secure the space environment and counter threats from the ultimate high ground.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity.
• What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results.
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together.

YOUR MISSION

We're looking for a Lead Operations Engineer to own the Mission Operations organization's contributions to a spacecraft program end to end — from early business development and proposals, through concept of operations (CONOPS) development and assembly, integration & test (AI&T), into live on-orbit operations and disposal.

On our programs, the Operations team is the connective tissue of the engineering effort. You'll act as the generalist systems engineer who integrates the deep expertise of our specialist subsystem teams — GNC, flight software, FDIR, propulsion, thermal, ground systems, RF, avionics, and electrical — into a coherent, operable spacecraft and mission. You'll define the work your team needs to do across the program lifecycle, task it out, lead a small team of engineers in executing it, and be accountable for getting it done.

This is a technical leadership role first and foremost. On-orbit operations experience is welcome, but what matters most is exceptional engineering fundamentals and genuine technical depth across a broad range of spacecraft subsystems and mission concepts. If you're the engineer other engineers come to when a problem spans three subsystems and nobody's sure where it lives, we want to talk to you.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own all Mission Operations deliverables for a given satellite program — from BD/proposal phase, through CONOPS development and AI&T, into live operations and disposal.
• Serve as the integrating generalist engineer across subsystem teams (GNC, FSW, FDIR, propulsion, thermal, ground, RF, avionics, EE), tying specialist work into a unified, operable mission design.
• Define, scope, and task the Operations team's work for the program — build the plan and drive execution.
• Lead and mentor a small, multidisciplinary team of ~4–5 engineers.
• Contribute engineering and operational content to business development proposals.
• Develop and mature CONOPS from early concept through operations.
• Support AI&T as a systems-level generalist, and lead anomaly investigation and resolution across the program.
• Represent Operations in cross-functional design reviews and program milestones.
• Support critical mission phases (launch, early orbit, RPO events) as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field (aerospace/astronautical preferred).
• Roughly 10+ years of experience in the space industry, or equivalent depth.
• Strong engineering fundamentals with demonstrated technical depth across multiple spacecraft subsystems.
• Experience leading small, cross‑functional teams of engineers spanning multiple disciplines.
• Able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret security clearance (U.S. citizenship required).
• Willing to work on‑site in Colorado Springs or Denver.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in a related discipline.
• Experience with missile defense.
• Experience across the full satellite program lifecycle — BD/proposals, CONOPS development, AI&T, and live operations.
• In‑depth knowledge of spacecraft subsystems, especially GNC and flight software (FSW).
• Experience with relative navigation, rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), and closed‑loop target tracking and maneuvering.
• Familiarity with Atlassian tools (Jira, Confluence).
• Proficiency in one or more programming languages and comfort with basic scripting.
• Experience supporting USSF and/or Intelligence Community space defense missions (space control / orbital warfare).
• Experience with Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission systems, sensors, or operations.
• Familiarity with missile defense architectures and operations.
• Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance.

COMPENSATION

• Colorado Base Salary: $150,000 - $250,000
• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location — This is an onsite position, we are seeking candidates based near Colorado Springs, CO or Denver, CO.
• Work Schedule — flexibility to support 24/7 mission operations, including nights, weekends, holidays, and on‑call availability during mission‑critical events and anomaly response.
• Work environment — the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands — the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

This position will be open until it is successfully filled.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us.