Systems Verification & Operations Engineer Job Lexington area,Kentucky USA,Quality Assurance

Space Tango is an innovative space technology small business based in Lexington, Ky. Space Tango's mission is to manufacture health and technology products in space that create value and transformational solutions. Space Tango provides space-based automated facilities and payloads to support research and development and small-scale manufacturing needs of our partners and customers in the Low Earth Orbit environment and beyond.

As a leader in automated systems, Space Tango pursues pathways to on-orbit production. Our vision is to inspire, innovate, and create a better future for humanity by utilizing the environment of space.

The Systems Verification & Operations Engineer position supports the verification, testing, and operation of automated spaceflight payloads and facilities. This role bridges software, payload operations, test execution, and mission support, with a focus on executing reliable Payload Verification Tests (PVTs), supporting flight operations, collecting and organizing test evidence, and helping improve repeatable verification processes.

This position is ideal for candidates who enjoy working hands‑on with complex technical systems, following disciplined procedures, troubleshooting across software and hardware interfaces, and supporting mission‑critical operations. The role will work closely with software engineering, project management, mission operations, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, science teams, and other verification, test, and operations engineers.

Travel may be required to support launches, customer activities, partner integrations, and mission operations. Because Space Tango's business centers around spaceflight missions, candidates should be comfortable supporting non‑standard work schedules, including occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, and other non‑nominal hours when required for launch campaigns, testing, or on‑orbit operations.

Key Responsibilities

Execute Payload Verification Tests (PVTs) for spaceflight payloads and facilities.
Support flight operations, ground testing, mission simulations, and operational readiness activities.
Execute software verification, regression testing, release validation, and acceptance testing.
Download, organize, and review telemetry, imagery, video, logs, and related mission data.
Maintain test records, verification evidence, issue logs, runbooks, and operational handoff notes.
Support development and improvement of test procedures, operational checklists, and PVT templates.
Identify anomalies during test or operations activities and coordinate with engineering teams to resolve them.
Track and maintain operational timelines, test schedules, and readiness milestones.
Participate in reviews of payload readiness, software readiness, and operational readiness.
Support launch, integration, customer, or partner activities as needed.
Contribute to continuous improvement of Space Tango's verification and operations processes.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience Required

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Aerospace, or another related technical discipline, or equivalent hands‑on technical experience.
Experience testing, operating, troubleshooting, or supporting complex technical systems.
Ability to follow detailed procedures while recognizing and communicating off‑nominal behavior.
Working knowledge of software testing, system verification, or operational test execution.
Comfort working in Linux or Unix‑based environments.
Strong technical documentation and communication skills.
Ability to coordinate across multiple engineering and project teams.
High attention to detail and strong ownership of follow‑through.
Willingness to support non‑nominal hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as required for launches, testing, and mission operations.

Preferred

Experience with spaceflight payloads, aerospace systems, robotics, lab automation, or embedded systems.
Experience executing verification, integration, acceptance, or operational readiness testing.
Familiarity with Python, Bash, Git, Docker, or CI/CD workflows.
Experience reviewing telemetry, imagery, video, or mission data.
Familiarity with NASA mission…