Senior Orbit Operations Engineer

Reflect Orbital; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision coverage

HSA/FSA/401K

Unlimited PTO

Healthy lunches

Job summary

Reflect Orbital seeks a Senior Orbit Operations Engineer to own day-to-day spacecraft operations and the supporting infrastructure. You will write and improve procedures, monitor health, analyze anomalies, plan maneuvers, and coordinate ground passes.

You’ll build automation and mentor junior operators as the fleet grows. You will lead real-time shifts, perform anomaly investigations, and drive reliability through data-driven trends and robust flight rules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related STEM field.
• 5+ years of experience in satellite mission operations or related field.
• Solid understanding of spacecraft systems and subsystem interactions.
• Experience working on-orbit anomalies to root cause.
• Proficiency with mission control software (OpenC3 COSMOS, L3Harris InControl, or similar).
• Strong programming and scripting skills (Python, C++ preferred).
• Familiarity with Linux environments and command-line tools.
• Experience with DevOps tools and practices (Git, Docker, CI/CD).
• Familiarity with RF systems, ground station operations, or link budgets.
• Experience developing operational requirements or CONOPS documentation.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Sound judgment and composure in real-time operational environments.
• LEOP or commissioning experience on a flown mission is a plus.
• Experience operating multi-satellite constellations or fleets is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead shifts for real-time operations, including telemetry monitoring, command decisions, and anomaly response.
• Lead on-orbit anomaly investigations to root cause and document findings and lessons learned to improve fleet reliability.
• Perform long-term telemetry trending and performance analysis to detect subsystem degradation, refine alarm limits, and inform decisions.
• Plan and lead spacecraft maneuvers, station-keeping, and orbital adjustments.
• Lead LEOP, bus and payload commissioning, and orbit-raising campaigns for new satellites.
• Develop, validate, and maintain operational procedures, flight rules, and command sequences.
• Build automation for telemetry monitoring and alerting, pass scheduling, and anomaly detection and response.
• Collaborate with spacecraft engineering teams to define CONOPS, fault management, and onboard FDIR responses.
• Plan and lead operational readiness activities, including simulations and dress rehearsals.
• Mentor and train operations engineers.
• Participate in 24/7 rotating shift work to meet mission needs.

Skills

Mission operations

Python

C++

Linux

DevOps (Git, Docker, CI/CD)

Ground station operations

CONOPS

Education

Bachelors in Aerospace, Electrical or CS

Tools

OpenC3 COSMOS

L3Harris InControl

Git

Docker

CI/CD

Job description

At Reflect, you will be expected to move fast, have a lot of ownership and, most importantly, be able to effect change. If this excites you, we are interested in hearing about your best work and accomplishments across any domain and from any points in your life.

About the Role

As a Senior Orbit Operations Engineer, you’ll own the day-to-day operation of our spacecraft and the operational infrastructure that makes it all work. This is a high-ownership role on a small, collaborative mission operations team. You won’t just execute procedures, you’ll write them, improve them, and help define how we operate as a company.

You’ll monitor spacecraft health, investigate anomalies, plan maneuvers, and coordinate ground station passes, and you’ll lead these activities during LEOP, commissioning, and other critical phases. You’ll also build the automation and processes that keep a growing fleet running smoothly, and mentor newer operators as the team grows.

Responsibilities

• Lead shifts for real-time operations, including telemetry monitoring, command decisions, and anomaly response

• Lead on-orbit anomaly investigations to root cause and document findings and lessons learned to improve fleet reliability

• Perform long-term telemetry trending and performance analysis to detect subsystem degradation, refine alarm limits, and inform operational and design decisions

• Plan and lead spacecraft maneuvers, station-keeping, and orbital adjustments

• Lead LEOP, bus and payload commissioning, and orbit-raising campaigns for new satellites

• Develop, validate, and maintain operational procedures, flight rules, and command sequences

• Build automation for telemetry monitoring and alerting, pass scheduling, routine commanding, and anomaly detection and response

• Collaborate with spacecraft engineering teams to define CONOPS, fault management, and onboard FDIR responses

• Plan and lead operational readiness activities, including simulations and dress rehearsals

• Mentor and train operations engineers

• Participate in 24/7 rotating shift work to meet mission needs

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM field

• 5+ years of experience in satellite mission operations or a related field

• Solid understanding of spacecraft systems and subsystem interactions

• Experience working on-orbit anomalies to root cause

• Proficiency with mission control software (e.g. OpenC3 COSMOS, L3Harris InControl, or similar)

• Strong programming and scripting skills (Python, C++ preferred)

• Familiarity with Linux environments and command-line tools

• Experience with DevOps tools and practices (Git, Docker, CI/CD)

• Familiarity with RF systems, ground station operations, or link budgets

• Experience developing operational requirements or CONOPS documentation

• Clear written and verbal communication skills

• Sound judgment and composure in real-time, high-pressure operational environments

• LEOP or commissioning experience on a flown mission is a plus

• Experience operating multi-satellite constellations or fleets is a plus

Even if you don’t meet 100% of the above qualifications, we are likely still interested in hearing from you. Hiring exceptional individuals is our #1 priority, and we believe that exceptional people often have highly unusual backgrounds.

We are also interested in carving out unique roles for unconventional people that we are excited about working with.

Benefits

Reflect Orbital’s success will hinge on our team, which is why our compensation and benefits plan is designed to reward our employees and support their families as generously as we’re able.

• Broad choice of medical/dental/vision coverage, Reflect covers 100% of each base-policy

• Access to HSA, FSA, and 401K

• Unlimited paid time off, two-weeks per year encouraged

• Healthy lunches provided daily

Equal Opportunity

Reflect Orbital is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Reflect Orbital 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.

More about Reflect Orbital:

Learn more about our team here.