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Salary: USD 140,333 - 179,314 / annual
Varda Space Industries is building commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, and satellite buses. The company operates end-to-end from design through in-orbit operations, with leadership from SpaceX, Blue Origin, and major pharma companies.
As Senior Mission Operations Engineer, you will own Varda's on-orbit mission operations for the Winnie Spaceship and related payloads. This is a hands-on role combining real-time spacecraft operations with engineering leadership and software development.
Key responsibilities include: developing and executing on-orbit missions from concept through execution; owning the full operations development cycle for mission-unique payloads; coordinating across engineering teams to improve mission operations and ensure success; building web-based tools to automate operational tasks; and scaling operational capabilities to support increasing flight cadence.
You will be an exceptional communicator and cross-disciplinary problem-solver, capable of applying aerospace, avionics, guidance/navigation/control, software, and thermal engineering knowledge to bespoke operational challenges. The role requires both technical depth and leadership capability to mold a unique mission operations framework for commercial space.
Basic qualifications: Bachelor's in engineering (Aerospace, Electrical, or Computer Science preferred); 2+ years in real-time operations on complex, high-consequence systems; 1+ years developing software tools in Python, JavaScript, and/or HTML; familiarity with spacecraft avionics, GNC, software, and thermal design.
Preferred: 3+ years spacecraft systems experience; prior operator experience in a leadership role; in-orbit spacecraft operations background; Git and Atlassian experience; ground station network familiarity.
Position is on-site in El Segundo, CA. Compensation includes base salary, stock options, and long-term cash awards.
