Staff Mission Operations Engineer

Vast; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 162,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid time off

Job summary

Vast in Long Beach is seeking a Staff Mission Operations Engineer to develop training and testing programs for crew certification. You will collaborate with engineers to translate customer requirements into operational concepts, lead real-time flight control during missions, and ensure readiness campaigns across ground and spacecraft systems.

The role emphasizes 10+ years in spaceflight operations and advanced technical knowledge across avionics, propulsion, and ground systems.

Qualifications

• Experience in human spaceflight mission operations and crew training development.
• Master’s degree in a technical field is required.
• 10+ years in operation and training of complex spaceflight systems with on-console leadership.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver training and human-in-the-loop testing programs for certification of crew members.
• Iterate improvements to mission operations training and ground systems processes.
• Translate customer requirements into concepts of operations for spaceflight missions.
• Lead flight control team in real-time mission execution and support readiness campaigns.
• Analyze vehicle telemetry and provide actionable summaries to stakeholders.

Skills

Human spaceflight operations

Flight control leadership

Training development

Software engineering: C++, Golang, JS,

Python

Education

Master’s degree in a technical field

Job description

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. Vast is developing next-generation space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Using an incremental, hardware-rich and low-cost approach, Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station. Haven Demo's 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches, followed by additional Haven modules to enable permanent human presence by 2030. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Staff Mission Operations Engineer, reporting to the Senior Manager, Crew Operations & Training, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver training and human in the loop testing programs and associated products/materials using a variety of delivery platforms, and conduct training to enable certification of console flight controllers and astronaut crew members.
• Implement and iterate improvements to processes & systems with a focus on advancing Vast’s Mission Operations, Training, and human in the loop testing approaches while maintaining Vast’s commitment to excellence.
• Identify areas for improvement of the training systems, human in the loop testing, Mission Systems, Mission Operations Software, and other ground system architecture features and processes, and collaborate with the Mission Systems Engineering & Ground Software Engineering teams to test, deploy, and maintain them.
• Work closely with Mission Management to ensure customer requirements (including but not limited to payloads, customer directed science, and other research activities) are translated to a Concept of Operations that balances all needs.
• Work with engineers across disciplines to support the development of spacecraft operations training programs and crew operations procedures with intimate knowledge of ground procedures, flight rules, hazard reports and controls, products & processes; culminating in the safe & successful operations of a newly launched spacecraft and crew.
• Provide operational support as the operations expert in planning for and execution of pre-flight testing and checkouts to ensure training systems, spacecraft, and ground systems are capable to execute readiness campaigns and flight.
• As directed, train for and operate Vast’s crewed and uncrewed missions for vehicle commissioning, on-orbit operations, anomaly resolution, and final deorbit of the spacecraft.
• As directed, perform routine analysis of vehicle telemetry and deliver informed summaries as well as recommendations to mission stakeholders as well as to other engineering disciplines for further review & analysis.
• As directed, train for and lead the flight control team in real-time mission execution.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience in human spaceflight mission operations, human in the loop testing campaigns, and/or spaceflight operations crew and flight control team technical training development and execution/delivery.
• Master’s degree in a technical field.
• 3+ years working in a spacecraft design, build, and test environment.
• 10+ years of experience in the operation and training of complex spaceflight systems, including demonstrated on-console leadership in real-time spaceflight operations as a flight, mission, or operations director.
• Technical knowledge in spacecraft systems engineering (avionics, propulsion, attitude control, RF and/or optical communications, orbital mechanics, life support systems, thermal and power control systems).
• Technical knowledge in Space-to-Ground Communication Systems (RF, Ground Stations, Modems, Antenna Systems).
• Software Engineering Skills (C++, Golang, Javascript, React, Matlab, Python/Octave, Software Architecture, Databases, Cloud).
• Proficient at using command line interfaces and scripting languages associated with spaceflight ground systems.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time.
• Willingness to work overtime, or weekends to support critical mission milestones.

Pay Range: California

$162,000-$230,000 USD

Compensation And Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

• 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.