Mission Operations Engineer Jobs
Mission Operations Engineer jobs are open across aerospace, defense, government contracting, and commercial space, from entry-level to senior and staff, with specializations in satellite operations, ground systems, and launch vehicle support. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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About Varda
Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda's W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.
About This Role
The Senior Mission Operations Engineer is an experienced spacecraft operator. They are exceptional communicators, adept leaders, and a jack-of-all trades capable of applying cross-discipline engineering to bespoke solutions. An ideal candidate is someone passionate to work in a startup environment where you will have the opportunity to fully own on-orbit operations for our Winnie Spaceship and mold a unique new mission framework for operations in space.
Responsibilities
- Develop, coordinate, execute, and lead Varda's on-orbit missions.
- Own the full ops development cycle for mission-unique payloads, from the creation of mission profiles through execution.
- Work with teams across the company to continuously improve upon mission operations and ensure mission success.
- Automate and eliminate operational burden by building webtools.
- Scale up Varda's operational capabilities to support a growing flight cadence.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, preferably Aerospace, Electrical, or Computer Science.
- 5+ years of experience in a real time operations role on a complex and high consequence operation.
- 3+ years of experience developing software tools in Python, JavaScript, and/or HTML.
- Familiarity with Avionics, GNC, Software, and Thermal design practices for spacecraft.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 5+ years of experience with spacecraft systems.
- Previous operator experience in a leadership role.
- Previous in-orbit spacecraft operations experience.
- Previous experience with Git and Atlassian products.
- Familiarity with ground stations networks.
Pay Range
- Salary range: Senior: $140,333 - $179,314/ per year.
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
- Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
- You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire "U.S. persons" who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
"US person" means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Read more Read more
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
About Varda
Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda's W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.
About This Role
The Senior Mission Operations Engineer is an experienced spacecraft operator. They are exceptional communicators, adept leaders, and a jack-of-all trades capable of applying cross-discipline engineering to bespoke solutions. An ideal candidate is someone passionate to work in a startup environment where you will have the opportunity to fully own on-orbit operations for our Winnie Spaceship and mold a unique new mission framework for operations in space.
Responsibilities
- Develop, coordinate, execute, and lead Varda's on-orbit missions.
- Own the full ops development cycle for mission-unique payloads, from the creation of mission profiles through execution.
- Work with teams across the company to continuously improve upon mission operations and ensure mission success.
- Automate and eliminate operational burden by building webtools.
- Scale up Varda's operational capabilities to support a growing flight cadence.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, preferably Aerospace, Electrical, or Computer Science.
- 5+ years of experience in a real time operations role on a complex and high consequence operation.
- 3+ years of experience developing software tools in Python, JavaScript, and/or HTML.
- Familiarity with Avionics, GNC, Software, and Thermal design practices for spacecraft.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 5+ years of experience with spacecraft systems.
- Previous operator experience in a leadership role.
- Previous in-orbit spacecraft operations experience.
- Previous experience with Git and Atlassian products.
- Familiarity with ground stations networks.
Pay Range
- Salary range: Senior: $140,333 - $179,314/ per year.
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
- Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
- You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire "U.S. persons" who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
"US person" means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Read more Read more
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
Mission Operations Engineer Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsMission Operations Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Saronic Technologies22
- Northrop Grumman12
- Anduril10
- Amazon7
- HII5
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Retail
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in mission operations engineer jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field
- Experience with satellite or spacecraft ground systems operations and monitoring
- Active DoD Secret or Top Secret security clearance or eligibility
- Proficiency in mission planning software and orbital mechanics tools
- Ability to work rotating shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays for 24/7 operations
- Familiarity with anomaly resolution procedures and mission operations documentation standards
Tips for Your Mission Operations Engineer Job Search
Tailor your resume to mission phases
Hiring managers for mission operations roles want to see which mission phases you've supported, whether pre-launch, ascent, on-orbit, or deorbit. Call those phases out explicitly rather than listing generic systems experience.
Get your clearance status front and center
Many mission operations engineer postings require a DoD or IC clearance. State your clearance level and current status in your resume header so screeners don't have to hunt for it and your application doesn't get filtered out early.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists mission operations engineer openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Show proficiency in ground system tools
Postings frequently ask for hands-on experience with specific ground software like GMAT, CFDP, or mission planning tools. Name the exact tools you've used and the context, not just 'ground systems experience,' to pass automated screening.
Prepare for scenario-based technical interviews
Interviewers often walk candidates through anomaly resolution scenarios during on-orbit operations. Practice talking through your fault isolation process step by step, referencing real procedures you've followed rather than speaking in abstractions.
Negotiate relocation for ops-center roles
Many mission operations positions require on-site presence at a specific operations center. If you're relocating, raise relocation assistance in the offer stage rather than assuming it's included, and clarify the reporting timeline before you accept.
Mission Operations Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most mission operations engineers?
The companies hiring the most mission operations engineers right now include Saronic Technologies, Northrop Grumman, and Anduril, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense contractors and commercial space companies tend to post the highest volumes year-round.
How many mission operations engineer jobs are remote?
About 37% of mission operations engineer openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, which is relatively low compared to other engineering disciplines. Roles focused on mission planning, documentation, or systems analysis are more likely to allow remote arrangements, while real-time operations and anomaly response positions almost always require on-site presence at a specific facility.
How do you become a mission operations engineer?
Start with a bachelor's degree in aerospace, electrical, or systems engineering, then build hands-on experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level positions at a satellite operator, defense contractor, or government agency. Pursue a clearance as early as possible, since many programs require one. Gaining certification in mission operations standards and learning ground system software used by your target employers strengthens your candidacy significantly.
Can you get hired as a mission operations engineer with little experience?
Yes, some programs hire engineers directly out of school into mission operations trainee or associate roles, particularly at larger defense contractors and civil space agencies. Emphasize any project work involving real-time systems, control loops, or operations scenarios. University CubeSat programs, NASA internships, and ROTC-affiliated aerospace programs are common entry points that hiring teams recognize as credible hands-on experience.
What does the mission operations engineer interview process look like?
The process typically starts with a recruiter screen, followed by a technical phone interview covering orbital mechanics fundamentals and ground systems knowledge. A panel interview with current mission operators comes next, often including scenario walkthroughs where you explain how you'd respond to a spacecraft anomaly. Clearance-required roles add a background investigation step that runs parallel to or after the offer stage.
Where can I find and apply to mission operations engineer jobs?
You can find and apply to mission operations engineer jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your background and preferences, and apply directly to each listing that fits.
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