Senior Mission Operations Engineer - On-Orbit & RPO

True Anomaly, Inc.; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 125,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity + Benefits

Health, Dental, Vision

PTO and paid holidays

401K

Parental Leave

Job summary

True Anomaly is building the next generation of space superiority capabilities for national security space. As an Operations Engineer 3, you will plan, simulate, and execute missions for our RPO-class spacecraft—operating at the cutting edge of what's possible on orbit.

You’ll own the full lifecycle of spacecraft operations, from developing procedures to real-time mission execution, anomaly resolution, and post-mission analysis, collaborating with systems, GNC, flight software, and ground teams

Qualifications

• 5+ years of spacecraft operations experience
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field
• Experience coordinating across engineering and operations teams to translate mission requirements into executable procedures and system capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in high-pressure, real-time mission environments with sound judgment and composure
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Eligibility for a DoD Top Secret/SCI security clearance

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute simulated and live spacecraft missions across all mission phases, including Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO)
• Develop, maintain, and improve spacecraft operations procedures using flight software, spacecraft hardware, and ground systems
• Monitor spacecraft telemetry and system health in real time
• Identify on-orbit anomalies, lead anomaly resolution planning, and drive corrective actions with engineering teams
• Conduct post-mission analysis and lessons-learned sessions to improve operational processes, procedures, and products
• Perform orbit state determination for cooperative, non-cooperative, and uncooperative SVs and derive intent from observed behaviors
• Provide SME to inform development and refinement of flight software and ground system capabilities
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including systems, GNC, flight software, ground software, and hardware engineering

Skills

Spacecraft operations

Cross-team coordination

High-pressure environments

Written and verbal communication

Security clearance eligibility

RPO missions

Python/MATLAB scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, or related field

Tools

AGI STK

GMAT

Python

MATLAB

Telemetry processing systems

Job description

A new space race has begun. True Anomaly seeks those with the talent and ambition to build innovative technology that solves the next generation of engineering, manufacturing, and operational challenges for space security and sustainability.

OUR MISSION

The peaceful use of space is essential for continued prosperity on Earth—from communications and finance to navigation and logistics. True Anomaly builds innovative technology at the intersection of spacecraft, software, and AI to enhance the capabilities of the U.S., its allies, and commercial partners. We safeguard global security by ensuring space access and sustainability for all.

OUR VALUES

• Be the offset. We create asymmetric advantages with creativity and ingenuity
• What would it take? We challenge assumptions to deliver ambitious results
• It’s the people. Our team is our competitive advantage and we are better together

YOUR MISSION

True Anomaly is building the next generation of space superiority capabilities for national security space. As an Operations Engineer 3, you will plan, simulate, and execute missions for our RPO-class spacecraft—operating at the cutting edge of what's possible on orbit. You'll own the full lifecycle of spacecraft operations, from developing and refining procedures to real-time mission execution, anomaly resolution, and post-mission analysis. Working at the intersection of operations and engineering, you'll bring deep technical expertise to bear on some of the most complex and consequential missions in space while directly shaping the tools and systems that make them possible.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan and execute both simulated and live spacecraft missions across all mission phases, from early-orbit operations through complex Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) taskings
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve spacecraft operations procedures, drawing on deep expertise in flight software, spacecraft hardware, and ground systems to achieve mission objectives
• Monitor spacecraft telemetry and system health in real time during operations
• Identify on-orbit anomalies, lead anomaly resolution planning, and drive execution of corrective actions in coordination with engineering teams
• Conduct post-mission analysis and lessons-learned sessions to capture insights and drive continuous improvement of operational processes, procedures, and products
• Perform orbit state determination for cooperative, non-cooperative, and uncooperative space vehicles (SVs) and derive intent from observed behaviors
• Provide subject matter expertise (SME) to inform the development and refinement of flight software and ground system capabilities
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams—including systems, GNC, flight software, ground software, and hardware engineering—to support vehicle development, integration, and test activities

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of spacecraft operations experience, preferably leading a team of operators
• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field
• Experience coordinating across engineering and operations teams to translate mission requirements into executable procedures and system capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in high-pressure, real-time mission environments with sound judgment and composure
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Eligibility for a DoD Top Secret/SCI security clearance

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, or a related field
• Experience with Space Domain Awareness (SDA), including tracking, orbit determination, characterization, and/or behavior analysis of resident space objects
• Prior experience with RPO missions, on-orbit servicing, inspection, or multi-satellite constellation management
• Familiarity with national security space missions (DoD and/or IC) and the broader space domain awareness (SDA) enterprise
• Experience with GNC concepts relevant to proximity operations, including relative navigation, maneuver planning, and safety zone management
• Proficiency with astrodynamics tools (e.g., AGI STK, GMAT, or equivalent) for mission planning and simulation
• Experience developing flight procedures and operational concept documentation
• Experience with ground system architecture, command and telemetry processing, and real-time mission data systems
• Experience supporting hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) or software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing
• Experience with anomaly investigation, including fault tree analysis and corrective action reporting
• Scripting or programming proficiency (Python, MATLAB, or similar) to support integration of flight software, ground software, and operational processes
• Active TS/SCI clearance

COMPENSATION

• Base Salary: $125,000 - $170,000
• Equity + Benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, HRA/HSA options, PTO and paid holidays, 401K, Parental Leave

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, location, and experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work Location—Successful candidates will be located near Colorado Springs. This is an onsite position.
• Work environment—the work environment; temperature, noise level, inside or outside, or other factors that will affect the person's working conditions while performing the job.
• Physical demands—the physical demands of the job, including bending, sitting, lifting and driving.

This position will be open until it is successfully filled.

#LI-Onsite

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

True Anomaly is committed to equal employment opportunity on any basis protected by applicable state and federal laws. If you have a disability or additional need that requires accommodation, please do not hesitate to let us.