Senior Satellite / Mission Operations Engineer

Xplore is a highly differentiated, venture-backed commercial space company. We design, build, and operate satellites and sensors that collect high-fidelity Earth observation data, enabling insights that support social, economic, environmental, and security outcomes across the globe.

Every image we collect contains trillions of spectral data points - revealing the physical and chemical state of Earth in ways conventional imaging cannot see. Our multi-sensor satellite captures and combines multi-modal remote sensing data with edge computing and high-throughput communications capabilities to generate spatial insights for our customers around the world.

We are building the operational backbone of a scalable space infrastructure company.

This role is not a shift-based satellite monitoring, this is ownership of mission-critical spacecraft from launch through full constellation scale.

If you want to help operate next generation small satellites in orbit — and design the systems that make it software-defined, autonomous, resilient, and scalable — this role is for you.

We are hiring a Senior Satellite / Mission Operations Engineer to serve as a technical authority for Xplore’s on-orbit fleet.

You will lead spacecraft operations across the full lifecycle:

• Launch and Early Orbit Operations (LEOP)
• Commissioning and calibration
• Routine mission execution
• Anomaly response and recovery
• Automation and autonomy development
• Constellation scaling

You will improve current processes and architect them to be technically superb and operationally efficient.

Mission Architecture & CONOPS

• Define and evolve mission concepts of operation across multiple mission profiles
• Architect operational frameworks from LEOP through decommissioning
• Design scalable reference missions for multi-sensor spacecraft

Launch & Commissioning Leadership

• Lead spacecraft operations from launch to deorbit
• Develop and validate commissioning sequences
• Execute payload checkout, calibration, and performance verification

On-Orbit Technical Authority

• Lead anomaly detection, root cause analysis, and recovery planning
• Make real-time mission-critical decisions
• Own spacecraft health monitoring and operational performance
• Execute and validate on-orbit software updates

Autonomy & Scalability

• Design automation-first operations to support constellation growth
• Build fault management and autonomy frameworks
• Develop FlatSat and simulation-based validation pipelines
• Reduce operator burden through intelligent systems

Ground & System Integration

• Define mission operations and ground segment requirements
• Architect command and control interfaces
• Integrate and optimize commercial ground networks
• Validate RF compatibility and remote interfaces

Your decisions will directly influence spacecraft reliability, scalability, and company value.

Why This Role Is Different

• You will architect, improve and automate operations
• You will operate advanced multi-sensor spacecraft with edge compute capabilities
• You will shape both spacecraft design and ground infrastructure
• You will work in a high-agency environment where technical judgment drives outcomes
• Your impact will be visible in orbit.

This is a builder's role.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
• 3-5+ years of hands-on satellite operations or spacecraft systems experience
• Real-time command and control experience in LEO missions
• Demonstrated leadership in anomaly investigation, root cause analysis, and recovery operations
• Fluency working in Linux-based operational environments
• Strong programming ability (Python required; C/C++ or Rust preferred)
• Experience developing operational procedures, documentation, and operator training
• B.S. in Aerospace, Electrical, Systems, Software, or related engineering discipline

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines
• Ability to work on an “on-call” basis on a weeklong rotational schedule

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep expertise in spacecraft subsystems and payload operations, including Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) and guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), with strong grounding in control theory, stability analysis, and on-orbit performance evaluation.
• Experience with orbit determination and state estimation techniques (e.g., Kalman filtering, batch least squares, covariance analysis), including analysis of tracking data and validation of orbit and attitude solutions.
• Experience with mission and collection planning for remote sensing or communications satellites, including development or operation of collection planning systems, mission CONOPS definition, and optimization under orbital, attitude, power, thermal, and communications constraints.
• Experience designing or implementing spacecraft autonomy and fault management systems.
• Strong understanding of ground systems architecture, including ground station integration, commercial gateway services, and ground network performance optimization for reliable command and telemetry operations.
• Experience scaling operations from single spacecraft missions to multi-spacecraft or constellation operations.
• Strong systems engineering discipline, including requirements development, verification and validation (V&V), and cross-functional technical integration.

• Establish CONOPS for two new programs
• Fully validated operational procedures via simulation and FlatSat
• Measurable increase in automation of recurring mission tasks
• Strengthened anomaly response framework and recovery playbooks
• Improved spacecraft operational efficiency and reliability metrics

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your Total Rewards at Xplore.  As an employee, you will also receive access to comprehensive 100% company-funded medical, vision, and dental coverage, life and ADD insurance for you and your qualified dependents, and various other company perks such as free beverages and snacks, weekly team lunches, regular team outings, and special rewards. Additionally, Xplore offers an equity incentive plan (ESOP) for qualified full-time employees.

The HSA qualified health plan is available for full-time employees working 30 hours or more per week.

Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
Each full-time employee earns PTO at a rate of 1.33 days per month, and a minimum of 13 paid federal holidays are provided each year for full-time employees. Note: Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law.

Xplore is built around curious, driven engineers and builders who want to put real hardware in space and see it work.

Our team members:

• Are energized by building, launching, and operating spacecraft
• Enjoy tackling hard technical problems that require creativity, persistence, and teamwork
• Thrive in an environment surrounded by high-performing peers who push each other to do their best work
• Take pride in designing systems that move from idea to hardware to orbit
• Approach challenges with intellectual curiosity, collaboration, and a strong sense of ownership
• We're a tight-knit group that loves what we do—and the people we do it with.

• Spacecraft already on orbit
• Constellation scaling underway
• Expanding government and commercial demand
• Next-generation mission architecture in development

The engineers who join at this stage will define how Xplore operates for the next decade.

If you’re ready to command spacecraft, design autonomous mission systems, and help define how a new generation of satellites operates—we want to hear from you.

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EEO/Additional Requirements

Xplore is an equal opportunity employer; employment with Xplore is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This employer participates in E-Verify. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. All persons hired will be required to be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.