Flight Operations Manager Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

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 operations, quality systems, or regulated technical environments.

Interpersonal Skills

• Strong attention to detail.
• Calm, disciplined execution during time-sensitive operations.
• Ability to collaborate across software, hardware, science, operations, and project management teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to learn new systems, tools, and procedures quickly.
• Commitment to team success and mission reliability.

Space Tango is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Space Tango is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

This position may require access to technology and information subject to U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Employment is contingent upon the ability to obtain any necessary government authorizations to access and handle controlled technology and data. Candidates must be able to comply with all applicable export control regulations.