Mission Operations Director

E-Space; Saratoga (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

E-Space seeks an experienced Director of Mission Operations to lead the teams and technology powering our LEO constellation. You will define and execute strategy for autonomous, high-reliability spacecraft operations—from launch through on-orbit optimization—building people, processes and systems for flawless, responsible operations.

You will drive operational reliability, oversee launch campaigns, and partner with Ground Software, GNC and Systems Engineering to create an integrated, automated

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in spacecraft or constellation operations.
• Led mission operations or GNC teams.
• Experience with on-orbit spacecraft fleets (LEO preferred).
• Ground system architecture, mission planning, and ops tools familiarity.
• Hands-on with automation, telemetry, and command systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Mission Operations organization including spacecraft operations, GNC, autonomy, and ground system engineering.
• Own the operational performance and health of the constellation; manage reliability, capacity, and latency.
• Advance autonomous, lights-out operations and scalable architectures with minimal headcount.
• Oversee launch and commissioning campaigns from deployment to routine operations.
• Collaborate with Ground Software, GNC, and Systems Engineering to build an integrated automated ops ecosystem.
• Develop metrics, dashboards, and telemetry frameworks to monitor real-time constellation performance.

Skills

Leadership

Mission operations

GNC

Telemetry analysis

Automation

Decision making

Tools

Python

MATLAB

C++

Job description

Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure, and actionable? Then you’ve come to the right place!

At E-Space, we’re focused on bridging Earth and space with the world’s most sustainable low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network. We’re a team of bold thinkers, ambitious leaders and dynamic doers—and we’re disrupting NewSpace by fundamentally changing the design of legacy LEO space systems to deliver entirely new satellite capabilities at a fraction of the cost.

We’re intentional, we’re unapologetically curious and we’re 100% committed—to saving space, to protecting our planet and to turning connectivity into actionable intelligence.

We’re looking for an experienced Director of Mission Operations to lead the teams and technology that power our constellation. In this role, you’ll define and execute the strategy for autonomous, high-reliability spacecraft operations — from launch through on-orbit optimization. You’ll build the people, processes, and systems that ensure every satellite performs flawlessly and responsibly in orbit.

What you will be doing:

• Lead the Mission Operations organization, encompassing spacecraft operations, GNC, autonomy, and ground system engineering.
• Own the operational performance and health of the entire constellation — reliability, capacity, and latency.
• Drive the vision and roadmap for fully autonomous, “lights-out” operations that scale without additionalheadcount.
• Oversee all launch and commissioning campaigns, ensuring satellites transition smoothly from deployment to routine operations.
• Partner with Ground Software, GNC, and Systems Engineering teams to architect an integrated, automated operations ecosystem.
• Develop metrics, dashboards, and telemetry analysis frameworks to monitor constellation performance in real time.
• Lead the company’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and conjunction management efforts, coordinating with U.S. Space Force, regulatory bodies, and other operators.
• Build and mentor a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team of mission operators and engineers.
• Guideoperational risk assessment, contingency planning, and anomaly response strategies.
• Serve as the operational authority in major technical and programmatic decisions under time-critical conditions.

What you bring to this role:

• 8+ years of experience in spacecraft or constellation operations, including leadership of mission operations or GNC teams.
• Proven success operating or commissioning on-orbit spacecraft fleets (LEO preferred).
• Expertise inautomation, telemetry, and command systems for satellite constellations.
• Deep understanding of flight dynamics, GNC, and SSA principles.
• Experience with ground system architecture, mission planning, and operations tools.
• Strong background in operational reliability engineering and performance optimization.
• Hands-on familiarity with software and scripting languages (Python, MATLAB, C++, or equivalent) for automation and analysis.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills in high-pressure environments.

Bonus Points for the Following:

• Experience building autonomous operations frameworks or “no human-in-the-loop” systems.
• Familiarity with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) or Earth observation missions.
• Prior experience interfacing with Space Force, FCC, NOAA, or international regulatory bodies.
• Passion for sustainable orbital operations and responsible satellite deployment.

$0 - $0 a year

The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position in question, which is based on market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on location, skills and expertise, depth of relevant experience, and other relevant factors. For questions about this, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply for the role and are selected for an interview.

This is a full time, exempt position, based out of our Saratoga office. The target base pay for this position is $100,000 - $180,000 annually. The total compensation packaged will be determined by various factors such as your relevant job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

We are redefining how satellites are designed, manufactured and used—so we’re looking for candidates with passion, deep knowledge and direct experience on LEO satellite component development, design and in-orbit activities. If that’s your experience – then we’ll be immediately wow-ed.

E-Space is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role.