Senior Mission Operations Engineer Verified today

About Vast

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and 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. Vast is headquartered in Long Beach, California, with over 1,000 employees and more than a billion dollars in private capital.

The Role

As Senior Mission Operations Engineer reporting to the Senior Manager of Crew Operations & Training, you will support the development of systems required for crew operations and flight controller training programs for human-rated space stations. You are responsible for planning and successful implementation of crew operations and technical training for spacecraft missions. You will work cross-functionally with engineers across disciplines from early spacecraft design through on-orbit decommissioning.

Training Responsibilities

• Develop technical crew training materials for both 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
• Execute training simulations, including scenario construction, scripting, automation, testing and troubleshooting
• Plan end-to-end training flows and lead execution of technical training events for astronaut crew members 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 development of crew operations, including ownership of all crew-facing procedures
• Serve as subject matter expert on human operation of safety-critical systems across all engineering disciplines, including crew loads analysis, human error risk identification, and user interface development

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Provide operational support as the operations expert in planning and execution of pre-flight testing and checkouts
• Work closely with Mission Management to translate customer requirements into a Concept of Operations
• Work with engineers across disciplines to support spacecraft operations training programs and crew operations procedures with knowledge of ground procedures, flight rules, hazard reports and controls
• Identify areas for improvement of training systems, Mission Systems, Mission Operations Software, and ground system architecture features and collaborate with Mission Systems Engineering and software teams
• Implement and iterate improvements to processes and systems while advancing Mission Operations, Crew Operations, Training, and human-in-the-loop testing approaches

Mission Operations

• 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 final deorbit of spacecraft
• Perform routine analysis of vehicle telemetry and deliver informed summaries and recommendations to mission stakeholders and other engineering disciplines

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, software engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 2+ years of experience in real-time operation and/or training development and delivery of complex spaceflight systems
• Experience building from scratch a system, processes, and team to perform complex operations and training for an aerospace system such as a launch vehicle, satellite, or crew capsule
• 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

• 1+ years working in human factors engineering, human systems integration, or user research and usability testing, preferably in human spaceflight
• 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
• 1+ years working in a spacecraft design, build, and test environment
• 3+ years of experience in the operation and training of complex spaceflight systems, including demonstrated on-console competency
• Technical knowledge in spacecraft systems engineering such as 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 including RF, Ground Stations, Modems, and Antenna Systems
• Software Engineering and Language Skills including Git, C++, Golang, Markdown, Javascript, React, Matlab, Python/Octave, Software Architecture, Databases, and Cloud
• Proficiency with 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
• Must be a U.S. person as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing, including U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, and asylees and refugees with such status granted

Compensation

Base salary range: $137,000 to $195,000 USD. Compensation is calibrated to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. Full-time employees receive company equity and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents; generous paid time off with 20+ days vacation for exempt staff and ability to cash out unused vacation; paid parental leave; short and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; 401(k) retirement plan; ClassPass credits; mental healthcare through Spring Health; and on-site food perks including free snacks, coffee, cold drinks, dinner meals, and subsidized lunch.