Principal Mission Operations Engineer
Lead spacecraft operations and define the operational framework for a growing satellite constellation.
Posted by employer 2 months ago
First seen on Joblaze 1 month ago
Last verified on the company career page 6 hours ago
Skills & Technologies
Role intensity
70% hands-on coding
Requirements
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
Not disclosed in this posting: compensation, work arrangement, visa sponsorship.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
In the role of Principal Orbit Operations Engineer at Reflect Orbital, the individual will be responsible for shaping the operational framework for a growing fleet of spacecraft, including defining flight rules and managing critical mission phases. The position requires extensive experience in satellite mission operations, strong programming skills, and familiarity with mission control software. This role is ideal for seasoned professionals with a background in aerospace or related fields, particularly those who have led operations during significant mission events. Reflect Orbital emphasizes a hands-on approach within a small team, fostering an environment where innovation and ownership are
Joblaze insights
- Listed about a month ago — first seen on Joblaze September 3, 2026. Last confirmed on Reflect Orbital's careers page October 27, 2026.
- Python appears in 18.9% of 344 comparable principal other roles; computer science appears in 0.3% of 344 comparable principal other roles.
Quick facts
- How much experience is required?
- At least 10 years of relevant experience for this Principal Mission Operations Engineer role.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: Aerospace Engineering, C++, CI/CD, Docker, Electrical Engineering, Git.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Reflect Orbital targets principal-level candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Principal Mission Operations Engineer role at Reflect Orbital.
From the original posting
About the Role
As a Principal Mission Operations Engineer, you'll set the direction for how we operate spacecraft as the fleet grows: the operations concept, flight rules, fault management approach, and the automation roadmap that takes us from a few satellites to a constellation. You'll lead operations for our most critical activities and help build the team around you.
This is a hands-on role on a small team. You'll spend time on console, write procedures, and work anomalies yourself, while setting the operational standards the rest of the team builds on.
Responsibilities
Define the operations concept for the constellation, including shift models, automation strategy, operations center design, and ground network utilization
Develop and maintain the operational framework: flight rules, command authority, go/no-go processes, anomaly response, and readiness review standards
Lead operations for launches, LEOP, commissioning, and other critical mission phases
Define the fault management and onboard FDIR philosophy with flight software
Work with ground software to define the automation, mission planning, and fleet management capabilities operations needs
Lead high-severity anomaly investigations and the corrective actions that follow
Plan and lead operational readiness activities, including simulations, dress rehearsals, and operator training and certification
Mentor operations engineers and support hiring as the team grows
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM field
10+ years of experience in satellite mission operations or a related field
Experience leading operations for critical mission events (launch, LEOP, commissioning, or major anomalies)
Experience scaling operations, whether growing a team, a fleet, or an automation capability
Solid understanding of spacecraft systems and subsystem interactions
Proficiency with mission control software (e.g. OpenC3 COSMOS, L3Harris InControl, or similar)
Strong programming and scripting skills (Python, C++ preferred)
Experience with DevOps tools and practices (Git, Docker, CI/CD)
Clear written and verbal communication skills
Sound judgment and composure in real-time, high-pressure operational environments
Experience operating multi-satellite constellations or fleets is a plus
Experience standing up a mission operations center or operations processes from scratch is a plus
Broad choice of medical/dental/vision coverage, Reflect covers 100% of each base-policy
Access to HSA, FSA, and 401K
Unlimited paid time off
Healthy lunches provided daily
More about Reflect Orbital:
Standard company text repeated across Reflect Orbital's postings is omitted here.