Varda Space
Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer
$140K–$179K
El Segundo, California, United States · Senior · Full-time · Posted Oct 26, 2026
- Experience
- 5+ years in real-time operations and 3+ years developing software tools; preferred: 5+ years with spacecraft systems.
- Education
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline, preferably Aerospace, Electrical, or Computer Science.
- Visa sponsorship
- Must be lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. and be a U.S. person permitted access to the company’s technology without an export license.
About the job
Leads on-orbit missions and develops operational frameworks and tools for Varda’s spacecraft and mission-unique payloads.
What you'll do
- Develop, coordinate, execute, and lead on-orbit missions, including payload operations from mission-profile creation through execution.
- Improve mission operations with cross-company teams and build web tools to automate operational work.
- Scale operational capabilities to support a growing flight cadence.
What they ask for
- 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, high-consequence operation.
- 3+ years of experience developing software tools in Python, JavaScript, and/or HTML.
- Familiarity with spacecraft avionics, GNC, software, and thermal design practices.
Nice to have
- 5+ years of experience with spacecraft systems; prior leadership or in-orbit spacecraft operations experience.
- Experience with Git, Atlassian products, or ground station networks.
Pay
USD 140,333 - 179,314 per year (base salary)
Tools
Python, JavaScript, HTML, Git, Atlassian
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