Senior Mission Operations Engineer

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

The Mission

Space is the infrastructure layer for humanity’s next industrial revolution. While reusable rockets have opened the door, true economic transformation requires orbital logistics that are as accessible and reliable as commercial aviation. At Lux Aeterna, we’re building that future by developing the first fully reusable satellite platform built for reliable reentry, recovery, and rapid redeployment, transforming space from a one-way street into a two-way highway for innovation and commerce.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Mission Operations Engineer to take end-to-end ownership of Lux Aeterna’s Delphi-1 spacecraft, running it on orbit and bringing it home. This role spans mission operations leadership through commissioning, on-orbit, deorbit, reentry, and recovery.

You will be a critical member of the Mission Operations team: building the concept of operations, running rehearsals, and ultimately commanding the vehicle in flight.

This is the seat for someone who wants real ownership early and who wants to grow into the person responsible for our missions in flight.

This is a unique opportunity to:

• Own mission operations for a fully reusable spacecraft: on-orbit, reentry, recovery, and refurbishment hand-off
• Build Lux Aeterna’s mission operations function from zero: CONOPs, procedures, flight rules, and the team that flies the vehicle
• Serve as Mission Manager / Flight Director on console for first-of-kind reusable-satellite flights
• Work directly with the founders and technical leadership to shape how Lux Aeterna executes and flies missions
• Grow into the mission operations leader for the Delphi platform and follow-on programs

Why Lux Aeterna?

• Pioneering Technology: We’re developing the first reusable satellite platform with controlled return capability, fundamentally transforming space from a one-way journey to a two-way highway
• Real Impact: Your work will enable new industries in space manufacturing, research, and logistics while pioneering sustainable space infrastructure
• Speed & Autonomy: We maintain parallel hardware development streams and empower engineers to innovate rapidly while upholding rigorous aerospace standards
• World-Class Team: Work alongside experts from leading aerospace companies and research institutions, building technology that will reshape humanity’s access to space

The Role

• Author the Concept of Operations, console procedures, flight rules, anomaly playbooks, and mission timeline — partnering with GNC, FSW, GSW, and Avionics
• Stand up the Mission Operations Center, lead rehearsals, and drive the Flight Readiness and Mission Readiness Reviews
• Hire, train, and certify the mission operations team (internal or external): console operators, flight directors, payload operators. Define the on-call rotation that supports flight
• Serve as Mission Manager / Flight Director from pre-launch through on-orbit and own the call to proceed, hold, or abort, and run real-time coordination with KSAT, SpaceX, the range, customers, and recovery partners
• Lead the post-flight debrief; feed lessons learned into Delphi block upgrades and follow-on missions

Required Qualifications

• BS in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or equivalent technical field (or equivalent practical experience)
• 5+ years in aerospace, including 2+ years as a Lead/Senior Mission Operations Engineer, or equivalent role in other high-stakes hardware programs
• Direct experience in a mission operations, flight test, or launch environment including console time, procedure authorship, or flight-director-style real-time decision making in aerospace programs.
• Hands-on with ground-segment / MCC tooling like commanding, telemetry, mission planning, pass scheduling including KSAT or equivalent ground-network experience
• Strong technical fluency. Comfortable reading ICDs, requirements, and engineering analyses, and pushing back when the plan and the physics disagree
• Excellent written communication: procedures, flight rules, status, and exec-level reporting that people actually trust
• High composure under pressure and sound judgment with incomplete information
• Comfort with ambiguity and bias toward action over analysis paralysis
• Ability to operate effectively in fast build-test-iterate environments with high ownership and minimal supervision

Desired Experience

• Experience standing up a mission ops organization from zero: hiring, training, certifying operators, building the MOC
• Familiarity with reentry, recovery, or asset-return operations (capsule, glider, booster, or experimental vehicle)
• Working knowledge of FAA Part 450, range safety, and human-spaceflight-adjacent safety standards (SSCMAN 91-710, AFSPCMAN, NASA STD)
• Familiarity with RF, CCSDS, telemetry decom, and ground station segment integration
• Early-stage startup or new-program experience, especially in hardware or deep-tech companies
• Comfort building lightweight systems and processes that scale, without over-engineering them
• Military aviation, test, or operations background welcome in place of or alongside an engineering degree

Location & Work

We are based in Denver, CO and believe in the power of in-person collaboration. We are onsite 5 days/week by default, but flexible when life requires it. This role will include travel to vendor sites, partner facilities, the launch site, and the recovery zone in the run-up to and during flight.

Certain roles may involve access to export-controlled technical data. To comply with U.S. export-control laws, access may be limited to individuals who qualify as a “U.S. person” under 22 C.F.R. §120.62 or who otherwise may lawfully receive such access.

Compensation & Benefits

The anticipated base salary range for this position is$135k-$225k per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, skills, and job-related responsibilities.

This position is also eligible for equity compensation, as applicable.

Lux Aeterna offers a benefits package of medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off and company holidays; and a 401(k) retirement plan.

Certain roles may involve access to export-controlled technical data. To comply with U.S. export-control laws, access may be limited to individuals who qualify as a “U.S. person” under 22 C.F.R. §120.62 or who otherwise may lawfully receive such access.