Mission Operations Engineer
US$110,000 – US$185,000 / yr base salary
Posted 19 Aug 2026
Advertised as “Principal Mission Operations Engineer”
BranchFactor Summary
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
- Management level
- People management
- Employment
- On-Site
- Contract
- Full-time
| Base salary | US$110,000 – US$185,000 / yr |
|---|
Field of studyAerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering (or related)
Study levelBachelor's
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 Principal Mission Operations Engineer, you'll set the direction for how we operate spacecraft as the fleet grows: the operations concept, flight rules, fault management approach, and the automation roadmap that takes us from a few satellites to a constellation. You'll lead operations for our most critical activities and help build the team around you.
This is a hands-on role on a small team. You'll spend time on console, write procedures, and work anomalies yourself, while setting the operational standards the rest of the team builds on.
Responsibilities
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Define the operations concept for the constellation, including shift models, automation strategy, operations center design, and ground network utilization
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Develop and maintain the operational framework: flight rules, command authority, go/no-go processes, anomaly response, and readiness review standards
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Lead operations for launches, LEOP, commissioning, and other critical mission phases
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Define the fault management and onboard FDIR philosophy with flight software
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Work with ground software to define the automation, mission planning, and fleet management capabilities operations needs
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Lead high-severity anomaly investigations and the corrective actions that follow
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Plan and lead operational readiness activities, including simulations, dress rehearsals, and operator training and certification
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Mentor operations engineers and support hiring as the team grows
Qualifications
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Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM field
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10+ years of experience in satellite mission operations or a related field
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Experience leading operations for critical mission events (launch, LEOP, commissioning, or major anomalies)
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Experience scaling operations, whether growing a team, a fleet, or an automation capability
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Solid understanding of spacecraft systems and subsystem interactions
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Proficiency with mission control software (e.g. OpenC3 COSMOS, L3Harris InControl, or similar)