RPO Spacecraft Operations Engineer

Anduril; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 146,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Security clearance support

Job summary

Anduril Industries is seeking a Spacecraft Operations Systems Engineer for RPO to own planning, rehearsal, and flight of spacecraft in proximity operations. You will validate procedures against hardware‑in‑the‑loop systems and drive ops constraints into flight software and ground software designs.

You will lead day‑in‑the‑life simulations, coordinate pre‑launch campaigns, and work with AI&T teams to ensure robust mission readiness within DoD and IC programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years of spacecraft operations, mission planning, or flight dynamics experience.
• Direct RPO experience on a flown or near-flight mission: relative orbit design or close-approach execution.
• Experience with pre-launch operations: AI&T support, rehearsals, and readiness reviews.
• Ability to navigate complex systems and write clear procedures and training material.

Responsibilities

• Design and own RPO mission plans including delta-V budgets and timing.
• Incorporate safety into every approach to prevent collisions.
• Write flight rules, go/no-go gates, and conjunction screening procedures.
• Own mission operations plans across LEOP, commissioning, and on-orbit checkout.
• Lead pre-launch campaigns with day-in-the-life rehearsals and procedure changes.
• Validate procedures on flatsats and hardware-in-the-loop testbeds before flight.
• Incorporate operational constraints back into flight software and ground software.
• Create metrics to monitor vehicle and campaign performance.
• Triage anomalies and coordinate next steps under time pressure.
• Train operators and mission crews on RPO execution.
• Coordinate licenses with government agencies (FCC, NOAA).

Skills

Aerospace Engineering

Astrodynamics

Computer Science

Spacecraft operations

Mission planning

Flight dynamics

RPO experience

Procedures validation

Python

Linux

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Tools

STK/Astrogator

ODTK

MATLAB

Simulink

Python

Linux

Job description

Anduril Industries is seeking a Spacecraft Operations Systems Engineer for RPO to own planning, rehearsal, and flight of spacecraft in proximity operations. You will validate procedures against hardware‑in‑the‑loop systems and drive ops constraints into flight software and ground software designs.

You will lead day‑in‑the‑life simulations, coordinate pre‑launch campaigns, and work with AI&T teams to ensure robust mission readiness within DoD and IC programs.