Sierra Space Careers: Dare to Dream

We honor those that are not afraid to dream big dreams, those that tenaciously chase their dreams even when others say it cannot be done, those that achieve big dreams and change everything. Those are Dreams Worth Chasing.  

 

At Sierra Space we envision a future where humanity lives and works in space, on moons, and on distant planets. Our mission isn’t restricted to the few, instead we see a future where all people can choose to live, work, discover and explore beyond our planet. Our company is building a platform in space to benefit life on Earth and together we will alter the course of humanity.  

We have a bold mission. We are a bold company. Together, we are an extraordinary team.

About the Role

Are you a bold thinker? We dream big at Sierra Space —advocating the exploration of space, keeping service members safe and creating the systems that keep our world united and sustain our way of living. Join our team!

We are currently seeking a Mission Operations and Sustainment Lead (Senior Systems Engineer) to join our Flight Operations team in support of the development and execution of Tranche 2 Tacking Layer spacecraft missions as part of our contract with the Space Development Agency (SDA). As a vital part of our operations, you will play a pivotal role in the lifecycle management of spacecraft operations, including launch, commissioning, and mission sustainment.

Key Responsibilities:

The Mission Operations and Sustainment Lead is a leadership role within our Flight Operations organization. This role is responsible for the development and execution of operations throughout the entire spacecraft lifecycle. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 

• Lead the Mission Operations and Sustainment team with technical expertise and strong leadership qualities. 

• Manage mission operations requirements, including decomposition, allocation, verification, and validation. 

• Develop and validate mission operations products, tools, and operator training material. 

• Formulate comprehensive operational plans covering all mission phases, from pre-launch to mission conclusion. 

• Create and maintain a pre-launch simulation environment to verify operational procedures and subsystem functionality. 

• Plan spacecraft operations, including launch and on-orbit activities. 

• Guide rehearsals, test events, and early operations, while tracking technical progress. 

• Verify and validate mission operations through various testing methods and provide leadership and guidance within project teams. 

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About You  
Our mission is driven by the unwavering passion to push the boundaries of what is possible. We seek those who Dare to Dream — to envision the extraordinary and pursue it relentlessly – to join us on this transformational journey.   

  

We’re looking for dreamers who align with our values, vision and audacious goals – while also meeting the minimum qualifications below. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.  

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in System Engineering or related discipline and typically 10 (Ten) or more years of relevant experience; higher education may be considered in lieu of experience.   

• Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of education. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of systems engineering process, including requirements development and change management.

• Experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development teams.

• Proficiency in mission operations, spacecraft commissioning, and payload or subsystem design. 

• Strong background in mission management, command and control, and mission data processing. 

• Knowledge of ground systems, terminals, and infrastructure. 

• Experience in mission integration, operations readiness, rehearsals, and launch support. 

• Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively within a team. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Additional experience in developing mission operations products and ground system artifacts. 

• Background in software, hardware engineering, integration, test engineering, or related disciplines. 

• Proficiency with simulation tools, test benches, or FlatSats.

• Experience with Atlassian Tools such as Confluence and Jira.

• Ability to train Spacecraft Engineers and Online Operations Engineers effectively. 

• Proficiency with Command and Control (C2) and mission planning software. 

• Experience with NASA and US government spacecraft and mission require