Mission Operations Engineer II Verified today

About Vast

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using a hardware-rich, low-cost approach. Haven Demo's 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Haven-1 is expected to become the world's first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Vast is headquartered in Long Beach, California, with over 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital.

The Role

You are a Level 2 Mission Operations Engineer reporting to the Senior Manager of Crew Operations & Training. You will plan and execute crew operations and technical training for human-rated space station missions, supporting both experienced government crew members and private customers new to spaceflight operations.

Training Responsibilities

• Develop technical crew training materials for experienced government crew members and private customers new to spaceflight operations
• Develop technical training materials across all vehicle subsystems for flight controllers operating Haven-1
• Assist execution of training simulations, including scenario construction, scripting, automation, testing and troubleshooting
• Plan end-to-end training flows and execute technical training events for astronaut crew certification and flight control team certification using a variety of environments and delivery platforms

Crew Operations Responsibilities

• Develop scalable human-in-the-loop testing processes for verification and validation of human interface requirements
• Execute task analysis and human-in-the-loop testing for crew operations development, owning development and testing of all crew-facing procedures across multiple environments and delivery platforms
• Support as a subject matter expert on human operation of safety-critical systems across all engineering disciplines, including crew load analysis, human error risk identification, hazard control development, and user interface design

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Provide operational support as the operations expert in planning and execution of pre-flight testing and checkouts to ensure training systems, spacecraft, and ground systems are mission-ready
• Work with Mission Management to translate customer requirements (payloads, customer-directed science, research activities) into a Concept of Operations balancing all needs
• Collaborate with engineers across disciplines to support spacecraft operations training programs and crew operations procedures, leveraging knowledge of ground procedures, flight rules, hazard reports and controls
• Identify improvements to training systems, Mission Systems, Mission Operations Software, and ground system architecture, collaborating with Mission Systems Engineering and software teams to test, deploy and maintain them
• Implement and iterate improvements to processes and systems focused on advancing Vast's Mission Operations, Crew Operations, Training, and human-in-the-loop testing approaches

Mission Operations Support

• Train for, certify, and execute as an Operator supporting Vast's missions for uncrewed vehicle commissioning, uncrewed and crewed on-orbit operations, anomaly resolution, and spacecraft de-orbit
• Perform routine analysis of vehicle telemetry and deliver informed summaries and recommendations to mission stakeholders and engineering disciplines

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, software engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 1+ years working in human factors engineering, human systems integration, human-in-the-loop testing, or user research and usability testing, preferably in a safety-critical industry such as human spaceflight
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with other engineering disciplines
• Demonstrated ability to critically think in high stress environments and rapidly evolving situations
• Ability to disseminate critical engineering and technical information effectively and clearly
• Strong communication, technical writing, and presentation development and delivery skills
• Willing to support 24/7 operations during mission critical phases

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience in human spaceflight mission operations
• Experience in crew and flight control team technical training development and execution/delivery
• Master's degree in a technical field
• 2+ years of experience supporting systems and processes to perform human-in-the-loop testing, complex real-time operations (demonstrated on-console competency), or training development and delivery for an aerospace system (launch vehicle, satellite, crew capsule)
• Technical knowledge in spacecraft systems engineering (avionics, propulsion, attitude control, RF and/or optical communications, orbital mechanics, life support systems, thermal and power control systems)
• Technical knowledge in Space-to-Ground Communication Systems (RF, Ground Stations, Modems, Antenna Systems)
• Software Engineering and Language Skills (Git, C++, Golang, Markdown, Javascript, React, Matlab, Python/Octave, Software Architecture, Databases, Cloud)
• Proficient at using command line interfaces and scripting languages associated with spaceflight ground systems

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time
• Willingness to work overtime or weekends to support critical mission milestones

Employment Details

This is a full-time, exempt position located in Long Beach, California.

Pay Range (California): $112,000 - $159,000 USD. Compensation is calibrated to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability.

Full-time employees receive company equity and access to comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents; generous paid time off (up to 20+ days vacation for exempt staff with annual cash-out option); paid parental leave; short and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; ClassPass credits; mental healthcare through Spring Health; and exceptional food perks including free snacks, coffee, cold drinks, dinner meals, and subsidized lunch.

U.S. Export Control Compliance

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls. You must either be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.