Systems Engineer, Spacecraft Operations (RPO)

Anduril Industries; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 146,000 - 194,000; Full time

Job summary

Anduril Industries' Space team seeks a Spacecraft Operations Systems Engineer for RPO to own how we plan, rehearse, and fly close approaches with other objects. You will design mission plans, validate procedures, and run day‑in‑the‑life simulations before launch, tying together AI&T, GNC, flight software, and ground software.

You’ll work with mission partners and government agencies to meet DoD timelines, produce training materials, and implement procedure or design changes based on test

Qualifications

• Active U.S. Top Secret clearance is required.
• Background in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Computer Science or related field.
• 4+ years of professional spacecraft operations, mission planning, or flight dynamics.
• Direct RPO experience on flown or near-flight missions.
• Experience with AI&T support, procedure validation, rehearsals and readiness reviews.
• Strong problem solving and clear written communication.

Responsibilities

• Design and own RPO mission plans and delta‑V budgets.
• Ensure passive safety to avoid collision trajectories.
• Write flight rules and procedures for close approach.
• Own mission operations plans across LEOP to on‑orbit operations.
• Drive pre‑launch campaign with day‑in‑the‑life rehearsals and simulations.
• Validate procedures on flatsats and hardware‑in‑the‑loop tests.
• Feed operational constraints back into GNC, flight software, and comms design.
• Create metrics to debug vehicle and campaign performance.
• Triage anomalies and coordinate next steps under time pressure.
• Train operators and mission crews.
• Support schedules during ground testing and launch windows.
• Coordinate licenses with FCC, NOAA and other agencies.

Skills

Top Secret clearance

Aerospace engineering

RPO experience

Spacecraft operations

Mission planning

Flight dynamics

Python

Linux

Strong written communication

Education

Bachelor or higher in Aerospace Engineering / Astrodynamics / Computer Science

Tools

STK

Astrogator

ODTK

MATLAB

Simulink

Python

Linux

Job description

Anduril Industries is a defense technology company with a mission to transform U.S. and allied military capabilities with advanced technology. By bringing the expertise, technology, and business model of the 21st century’s most innovative companies to the defense industry, Anduril is changing how military systems are designed, built and sold. Anduril’s family of systems is powered by Lattice OS, an AI-powered operating system that turns thousands of data streams into a realtime, 3D command and control center. As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril is committed to bringing cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the military in months, not years.

About The Team

Anduril's Space team is expanding our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. We’re developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested war‑fighting domain.

About The Job

Rendezvous and proximity operations are where spacecraft operations stop being a checklist and start being a craft. You own that craft at Anduril. As a Spacecraft Operations Systems Engineer for RPO, you own how our spacecraft plan, rehearse, and fly close to other objects.

You’ll do this work well before launch. RPO campaigns are won in AI&T, on the flatsat, and in the rehearsals, not just on-console. You’ll validate procedures against hardware‑in‑the‑loop testbeds, build and run day‑in‑the‑life and contingency sims, and push ops constraints back into the GNC, flight software, and ground software designs while those designs can still change.

This role is directly tied to ongoing programs within Anduril's Space Business Line. We work with mission partners and customers to deploy reliable and robust capabilities on operationally‑relevant fielding timelines to meet complex challenges across the DoD and IC.

What You’ll Do

• Design and own RPO mission plans: relative motion design, approach and hold‑point sequencing, delta‑V budgets, and the timeline that ties them to comm passes, lighting, and ground contact
• Build passive safety into every approach, so that a missed burn, a dropped pass, or an off‑ nominal state doesn't put the vehicle on a collision trajectory
• Author the flight rules and procedures that govern close approach: keep‑out volume enforcement, go/no‑go gates, abort and breakout criteria, custody handoffs, and conjunction screening against both the target and third parties
• Own the mission operations plans and procedures for spacecraft programs across all phases, including LEOP, commissioning, on‑orbit checkout, and operations
• Drive the pre‑launch campaign from the ops side: write and run day‑in‑the‑life and mission rehearsals, inject the failures, and turn every finding into a procedure change or a design change
• Work with AI&T as the operations voice, validating procedures and command sequences on flatsats and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testbeds before they touch flight hardware
• Feed operational constraints back into GNC, flight software, ground software, and comms design
• Create and analyze the metrics used to debug and monitor vehicle and campaign performance
• Triage anomalies, root cause failures, and coordinate next steps under time pressure
• Train operators and mission crews on Anduril spacecraft and on RPO execution specifically
• Support demanding schedules during ground testing, launch windows, and on‑orbit operations
• Work with other teams and government agencies to obtain required licenses (FCC, NOAA) and comply with regulations for operating spacecraft, including proximity operations coordination

Required Qualifications

• Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance
• Strong engineering background from industry or school, ideally in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Computer Science, or another engineering field
• 4+ years of professional spacecraft operations, mission planning, or flight dynamics experience
• Direct RPO experience on a flown or near‑flight mission, on either the planning or execution side: relative orbit design, proximity operations trajectory planning, maneuver planning and reconstruction, or close‑approach execution on console
• Experience taking a spacecraft through pre‑launch operational readiness: AI&T support, procedure validation, mission rehearsals, day‑in‑the‑life testing, and operational readiness reviews
• Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex systems and detailed requirements
• Capable of solving complex technical problems with little oversight
• Clear written communication, including procedures, flight rules, and training material

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience on on‑orbit servicing, inspection, docking, or refueling missions
• Experience with autonomous or onboard relative navigation, including vision‑based or optical relative nav
• Flight dynamics depth: orbit determination, maneuver calibration, and maneuver reconstruction
• Experience with conjunction assessment and space traffic coordination
• Experience operating government, DoD, or IC spacecraft
• Experience with STK/Astrogator, ODTK, MATLAB, or Simulink
• Experience with Python and Linux systems
• Experience with testing and validation on flatsats and hardware‑in‑the‑loop testbeds
• Exposure to ground station operations and providers
• A desire to work on critical software in the space domain

US Salary Range

$146,000—$194,000 USD

Benefits

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are included in the majority of full time offers; and are considered part of Anduril's total compensation package. Additionally, Anduril offers top‑tier benefits for full‑time employees, including: At Anduril, we invest in our people. Our comprehensive, competitive benefits package (available at little to no cost to employees) ensures you’re supported in health, recovery, and whatever comes next. For more information, Explore Our Benefits.

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