SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 150,000 - 200,000 / annual
Turion Space is building critical infrastructure for the space economy through vertically integrated hardware and software. DROID is their line of space vehicles, and Starfire is their software suite covering simulation, modeling, planning, and operations. They are seeking a Senior Mission Operations Engineer to join their Irvine, CA team.
In this role, you will serve as an operational integrator between engineering and flight teams throughout the spacecraft lifecycle. You will be responsible for developing, integrating, and executing mission operations while ensuring operational constraints, procedures, risk mitigations, and readiness activities are thoroughly defined, validated, and aligned with mission objectives.
Key responsibilities include:
- Serve as subject-matter expert in mission operations, supporting tactical execution with minimal oversight, including command sequencing, real-time decision making, and anomaly response during testing, rehearsals, and on-call operations
- Coordinate cross-team project and mission execution activities with systems engineering, GNC, software, and ground teams, ensuring operational implications are captured in system interfaces, requirements, and mission planning products
- Define, evaluate, document, and validate operational constraints across mission phases; drive updates when requirements, risks, or design changes dictate
- Lead development, improvement, and validation of operational procedures, flight rules, and operator workflows to ensure accurate, consistent, and reliable execution
- Contribute to mission risk assessments by identifying operational risks and gaps, proposing mitigations, and ensuring operational considerations influence design and mission decisions
- Maintain mission readiness by identifying prep risks early, driving closure of operational gaps, validating tools and processes, and ensuring teams are prepared for rehearsals and flight
- Mentor Mission Operations Engineers and contribute to operator training, certification, and onboarding materials
You may be asked to support alternate shifts, extended shifts, and/or travel during peak work periods.
REQUIREMENTS:
- 3+ years experience in mission operations, spacecraft operations engineering, or related aerospace operations roles
- Deep understanding of mission operations concepts including constraints, procedures, ground systems, anomalies, and test-to-flight workflows
- Experience contributing to or developing operational processes, procedures, flight rules, or constraints
- Experience executing or leading operational activities, rehearsals, or real-time operations
- Strong cross-disciplinary communication skills with the ability to interface effectively between engineering and operations teams
- Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and solve complex technical and operational issues
- Must be a US citizen with ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance
- ITAR compliance: Must be a US citizen, US national, US lawful permanent resident, Refugee, or Asylee, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the US Department of State
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field, or equivalent work experience
- Experience across the full lifecycle of a space mission (design, integration, testing, rehearsals, commissioning, operations)
- Familiarity with mission risk frameworks (hazards, FMEA, fault trees) or readiness assessments
- Prior GEO operational experience, RPO/RPOD experience, and/or mission planning experience
- Scripting experience (Python, Ruby) for operations automation, analysis, or workflow improvements
- Enthusiasm for working on small, fast-paced teams in rapidly evolving mission environments
