Senior Mission Operations Engineer – TeraWave Verified today

About TeraWave

Blue Origin is pioneering space-based communications with TeraWave, a revolutionary satellite communications network delivering symmetrical data speeds of up to 6 Tbps anywhere on Earth. This multi-orbit constellation consists of optically interconnected satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and medium Earth orbit (MEO).

The Role

As a Senior Mission Operations Engineer, you will ensure readiness to execute on-orbit TeraWave operations by contributing to ConOps development, preparing operations products, forming and leading on-console crews, and executing early on-orbit mission operations. You will lead small teams of mission operations engineers throughout the program lifecycle while collaborating with engineers across the space and ground segments.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop mission plans, operations concepts, tools, and processes enabling highly effective real-time spacecraft and ground system operation through automation
• Lead small teams in developing and implementing detailed operations procedures, executables, telemetry displays, and technical documentation
• Ensure deliverables meet quality standards while promoting maximum reuse and backward compatibility
• Conduct testing and validation of ops products using hardware and software simulation environments
• Support systems engineering in developing spacecraft concept of operations
• Implement progress tracking to provide realistic completion forecasts
• Create detailed test procedures to validate end-to-end system capabilities
• Analyze and assess ground station selection for optimal communications availability
• Support communications spectrum licensing efforts through coordination with regulatory authorities
• Coordinate staffing for mission operations events and support certification of on-console personnel
• Support mission readiness activities including rehearsals, timeline development, and post-launch testing
• Provide real-time leadership during spacecraft launch and early orbit phase, including shift work from Blue Origin's mission control facilities in Texas and elsewhere
• Monitor spacecraft state-of-health across all subsystems and perform trending analysis
• Support troubleshooting and resolution of on-orbit anomalies as part of anomaly response teams
• Foster continuous improvement by contributing to and implementing lessons-learned
• Provide instruction and mentorship to early career engineers

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace, Electrical, Computer Science, Systems, or related fields
• 3+ years of experience managing technical teams
• 12+ years of proven experience in spacecraft operations development and execution, including real-time support for on-orbit operations in a flight director or comparable leadership role
• Extensive development of spacecraft operations products including procedures, telemetry displays, scripts, and technical documents
• Experience in configuration and product data management

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. in Space Systems, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or Aerospace Engineering
• Direct support for commercial or government spacecraft operations organization with deep understanding of use cases and operational approach
• Proficiency with command-and-control scripting languages such as Python, SPELL, STOL, or JAS
• Experience with virtualized ground software including Command and Control, Mission Planning, Flight Dynamics, Electronic Procedures, and Software Simulators
• Experience with mission planning and contact planning tools
• Experience with scrum methodology and agile product development
• Experience in full development lifecycle of space systems ground segments
• Mission analysis, flight planning, and timeline development
• Experience designing and evaluating operational readiness tests integrated with hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop simulators
• Experience with operational fault and anomaly management
• Experience performing system safety analyses including Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analyses (FMECA), and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills including ability to make persuasive presentations to external customers
• Ability to earn trust and build positive professional relationships

Compensation

Base pay range: $156,802.00 to $219,522.45 for VA and WA applicants. Other site ranges may differ.

Employment Details

• Location: 2 locations (primary mission control in Texas)
• Shift work required during launch and early orbit operations
• U.S. citizenship or national, U.S. permanent resident (Green Card), or lawfully admitted as refugee or granted asylum required
• Background check required for all positions