Vehicle & Mission Operations Engineer Verified today
The Role
From day one, you'll work hands-on with real spacecraft, leading integrated test campaigns and validating system health with world-class teams. You'll then carry that experience into Mission Operations, commanding vehicles from launch pad through early orbit. As K2 scales its fleet, you'll become an architect of on-orbit operations: designing the playbooks, tools, and systems needed to fly dozens, then hundreds, of satellites.
Responsibilities
- Author test procedures (manual and automated) to confirm spacecraft hardware and software flight worthiness
- Lead high-visibility integration campaigns for development and flight hardware
- Operate spacecraft during system tests at the factory, test facilities, launch sites, and pre-launch operations
- Serve as a key operator during on-orbit operations with real-time decision-making and coordination
- Interface with customers to scope payload testing based on expected functions and failure modes
- Identify and elevate off-nominal conditions during test and drive issues to resolution
- Communicate status, needs, and risks to the K2 Space team and payload providers during high-intensity test operations
- Assess risks in integration and test approaches and communicate mitigations and trade-offs
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in electrical, aerospace, mechanical, computer, or other relevant engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience in integration/test/automation engineering (includes internships and design/build/compete projects)
- Competency with analog and digital circuits, sensors/instrumentation, and software
- Familiarity with basic RF, fluids, statics and mechanics, and data acquisition systems
Nice to Have
- Experience testing and troubleshooting spacecraft components and systems, including subsystem checkouts and system acceptance testing
- Familiarity with mission operations concepts: LEOP, telemetry, commanding, fault protection, and anomaly resolution
- Experience working in a clean room and with ESD-sensitive equipment
- Experience operating vehicles in a mission or production setting
- Hands-on experience with HITL or Flatsat software verification testbeds
- Proficient in Python and/or Rust
- Experience with Linux systems