Mission Operations Lead: On-Orbit, Reentry & Recovery

Lux Aeterna; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 135,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

Lux Aeterna seeks a Senior Mission Operations Engineer to own Delphi-1 spacecraft operations, from on-orbit to reentry and recovery. You’ll build the ops concept, author procedures, and command the vehicle in flight from the Mission Operations Center.

You will lead rehearsals, establish flight rules, and coordinate with KSAT, SpaceX, and partners, growing into the ops leader for Delphi and future programs.

Qualifications

• BS in Aerospace or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years in aerospace with 2+ years as Lead/Senior Mission Operations Engineer.
• Experience in mission operations, flight test, or launch with console time.
• Hands-on with ground-segment tooling for commanding, telemetry, planning.
• Read ICDs/requirements/analyses and push back when plan conflicts with physics.
• Excellent written communication for procedures and status reports.
• High composure under pressure with sound judgment in incomplete information.
• Ability to operate in fast build-test-iterate environments with ownership.

Responsibilities

• Author the CONOPs, console procedures, flight rules, anomaly playbooks, and mission timeline.
• Stand up the Mission Operations Center, lead rehearsals, drive readiness reviews.
• Hire, train, and certify the mission operations team; define on-call rotation.
• Serve as Mission Manager / Flight Director from pre-launch through on-orbit and abort decisions.
• Coordinate in real-time with KSAT, SpaceX, the range, customers, and recovery partners.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

Mission operations leadership

Procedures writing

Real-time decision making

Ground-segment tooling

Communication skills

Calm under pressure

Startup experience

Education

BS in Aerospace/Mechanical/Electrical/Systems Engineering

Tools

KSAT ground network

Telemetry & mission planning tools

Job description

Lux Aeterna seeks a Senior Mission Operations Engineer to own Delphi-1 spacecraft operations, from on-orbit to reentry and recovery. You’ll build the ops concept, author procedures, and command the vehicle in flight from the Mission Operations Center.

You will lead rehearsals, establish flight rules, and coordinate with KSAT, SpaceX, and partners, growing into the ops leader for Delphi and future programs.