Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer II, Elytra

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Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables our world to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the only company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond.

Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

SUMMARY

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer II to support the Elytra orbital vehicle program. Elytra is a long-duration, multi-role spacecraft designed for extended on-orbit operations, hosted payload support, maneuver-intensive missions, and evolving mission objectives over months to years.

This role is fundamentally about owning spacecraft operations as a system. You will help architect and operate the ground system, develop flight operations products, and lead mission execution for a vehicle that does not have a single “event-driven” endpoint, but instead requires disciplined, sustainable, and evolvable operations. You will work closely with spacecraft subsystem teams, payload customers, and mission management to translate vehicle design into safe, repeatable, and scalable on-orbit operations.

If you are motivated by building operations frameworks that must endure, adapt, and scale across long mission lifetimes, this role is for you.

Mission Operations Engineer II

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Derive and maintain operational requirements for Elytra missions and author portions of Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Lead integration and validation of specific ground segment tools, data pipelines, and remote interfaces required for sustained orbital operations.
• Plan and execute Ground Readiness Tests (GRTs) and end-to-end mission simulations for assigned subsystems or mission capabilities.

Flight Operations Products

• Own the operational framework for one or more spacecraft subsystems, authoring mission-critical procedures and automation scripts.
• Lead cross-functional Working Groups with subsystem engineers to mature procedures across commissioning, routine operations, maneuvers, and contingency scenarios.
• Define operational capabilities and develop internal tools to improve efficiency, reliability, and situational awareness for long-duration missions.

Simulations and Training

• Design subsystem-focused "Day-in-the-Life" (DITL) simulation scenarios that stress long-term operational behaviors and fault responses.
• Collaborate with simulator and flight software teams to ensure realistic and operationally relevant simulation fidelity.
• Mentor junior engineers and help ensure operator readiness for nominal and off-nominal scenarios.

Mission Execution & Long-Duration Operations

• Staff critical console roles during commissioning, maneuvers, and anomaly resolution events.
• Lead real-time operations for assigned subsystems, providing clear technical status to mission leadership.

Required

• Experience: 2+ years in spacecraft operations, systems engineering, or flight/ground software.
• Mission Experience: On-console support for at least one live mission (LEO, GEO, or deep space).
• Technical: Demonstrated ability to author flight procedures, telemetry displays, and automation scripts. Subject Matter Expertise (SME) in at least one spacecraft subsystem. Experience working in CUI environments and supporting government customers.
• Software: Proficient in Python for automation, data processing, and tool development.
• Soft Skills: Disciplined troubleshooting approach; ability to drive alignment across engineering…