Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer
Join Varda as a Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer to lead on-orbit missions and develop unique operational frameworks.
Posted by employer 15 hours ago
First seen on Joblaze 3 hours ago
Last verified on the company career page 3 hours ago
Skills & Technologies
What you'll build
- Develop, coordinate, execute, and lead Varda's on-orbit missions
- Own the full ops development cycle for mission-unique payloads
- Work with teams to improve mission operations
- Automate operational burden by building webtools
- Scale up operational capabilities
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience in a real time operations role
- 3+ years of experience developing software tools in Python, JavaScript, and/or HTML
- Familiarity with Avionics, GNC, Software, and Thermal design practices
Nice to have
- 5+ years of experience with spacecraft systems
- Previous operator experience in a leadership role
- Previous in-orbit spacecraft operations experience
- Previous experience with Git and Atlassian products
- Familiarity with ground stations networks
Practical constraints
- On-site in El Segundo, CA
- Must be a U.S. person for work authorization
Requirements
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Visa
- No sponsorship (stated in posting)
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer at Varda Space is responsible for leading on-orbit missions and developing operational frameworks for the company's spacecraft. This role requires a strong background in engineering, particularly in aerospace or related fields, along with experience in real-time operations and software development using languages like Python and JavaScript. Ideal candidates are seasoned professionals who thrive in startup environments and possess leadership experience in spacecraft operations. Varda's team is composed of industry veterans, fostering a collaborative atmosphere focused on advancing commercial space infrastructure.
Joblaze insights
- Listed today — first seen on Joblaze October 1, 2026. Last confirmed on Varda Space's careers page October 1, 2026.
- Salary band is above the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$126,887).
- Starts above 38% of 249 comparable senior other roles in United States that list Python we track (median $150,000 across 56 companies). See Python salary trends
- Python appears in 16.2% of 2361 comparable senior other roles in United States; HTML appears in 0.6% of 2361 comparable senior other roles in United States.
Quick facts
- Is the Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer role remote?
- No — this is an on-site role in El Segundo, California, United States.
- What's the salary range?
- Varda Space lists $140,333–$179,314 for this role.
- How much experience is required?
- At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer role.
- Where is the role based?
- Varda Space is hiring for this position in El Segundo, California, United States.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: HTML, JavaScript, Python.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Varda Space targets senior candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer role at Varda Space.
From the original posting
About Varda
About This Role
The Senior Mission Operations Engineer is an experienced spacecraft operator. They are exceptional communicators, adept leaders, and a jack-of-all trades capable of applying cross-discipline engineering to bespoke solutions. An ideal candidate is someone passionate to work in a startup environment where you will have the opportunity to fully own on-orbit operations for our Winnie Spaceship and mold a unique new mission framework for operations in space.
Responsibilities
- Develop, coordinate, execute, and lead Varda's on-orbit missions.
- Own the full ops development cycle for mission-unique payloads, from the creation of mission profiles through execution.
- Work with teams across the company to continuously improve upon mission operations and ensure mission success.
- Automate and eliminate operational burden by building webtools.
- Scale up Varda's operational capabilities to support a growing flight cadence.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, preferably Aerospace, Electrical, or Computer Science.
- 5+ years of experience in a real time operations role on a complex and high consequence operation.
- 3+ years of experience developing software tools in Python, JavaScript, and/or HTML.
- Familiarity with Avionics, GNC, Software, and Thermal design practices for spacecraft.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 5+ years of experience with spacecraft systems.
- Previous operator experience in a leadership role.
- Previous in-orbit spacecraft operations experience.
- Previous experience with Git and Atlassian products.
- Familiarity with ground stations networks.
Pay Range
- Salary range: Senior: $140,333 - $179,314/ per year.
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.
- Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
- You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
Standard company text repeated across Varda Space's postings is omitted here.