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Mission Operations Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Bridge Defense

Mission Operations Manager

Washington, DC · On-site

$150K - $185K/yr

The Mission Operations Manager is the program lead on an engagement, paired with a Tech Lead and supported by a team of engineers. The Tech Lead owns whether the system was built right. You own ...

Lux Aeterna

Senior Mission Operations Manager

Denver, CO · On-site

Senior Mission Operations Manager Denver, CO | Full Time | Senior Level The Mission Space is the infrastructure layer for humanity's next industrial revolution. While reusable rockets have opened the ...

Lux Aeterna

Senior Mission Operations Manager

Denver, CO · On-site

Senior Mission Operations Manager Denver, CO | Full Time | Senior Level The Mission Space is the infrastructure layer for humanity's next industrial revolution. While reusable rockets have opened the ...

Allen Control Systems

Mission Operations Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

Position Overview: As a Mission Operations Engineer, you will be at the center of how ACS ... Support program managers in meeting client requirements and mission objectives. * Educate engineers ...

Anduril Industries

Mission Operations Engineer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$66K - $90K/yr

ABOUT THE JOB The Mission Operations team is responsible for managing the execution, growth, and success of our client accounts. Working across product, engineering, sales, and logistics teams, our ...

Allen Control Systems

Mission Operations Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

Position Overview: As a Mission Operations Engineer, you will be at the center of how ACS ... Support program managers in meeting client requirements and mission objectives. * Educate engineers ...

Nominal

Mission Operations Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$74K - $101K/yr

As a Mission Operations Engineer, you will bridge the software with real-world applications ... You're acting as an account manager and product expert, and important relational and technical ...

Nominal

Mission Operations Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

As a Mission Operations Engineer, you will bridge the software with real-world applications ... You're acting as an account manager and product expert, and important relational and technical ...

Allen Control Systems

Mission Operations Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$68K - $93K/yr

Position Overview: As a Mission Operations Engineer, you will be at the center of how ACS ... Support program managers in meeting client requirements and mission objectives. * Educate engineers ...

E-Space

Mission Operations Director

Saratoga, CA · On-site

$100K - $180K/yr

Lead the Mission Operations organization, encompassing spacecraft operations, GNC, autonomy, and ... Lead the company's Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and conjunction management efforts ...

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Mission Operations Manager information

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$63.5K

$118.5K

How much do mission operations manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for mission operations manager in the United States is $63,456.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,000.00 and $77,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Mission Operations Manager do?

A Mission Operations Manager oversees the planning, execution, and monitoring of mission operations, often in fields like aerospace, defense, or satellite communications. They lead teams responsible for ensuring that missions are carried out safely, efficiently, and according to established protocols. Their role involves coordinating between different departments, managing resources, addressing technical challenges, and making real-time decisions during critical mission phases. Mission Operations Managers also analyze mission data and implement improvements for future missions. This position requires strong leadership, technical, and problem-solving skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Mission Operations Manager?

To thrive as a Mission Operations Manager, you need expertise in project management, systems engineering, and operations planning, often supported by a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with mission control systems, satellite operations software, and certifications like PMP are commonly required. Strong leadership, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication set top candidates apart in this role. These skills are crucial for coordinating complex missions, ensuring operational success, and responding effectively to dynamic challenges.

What are the primary challenges a Mission Operations Manager faces when coordinating cross-functional teams during complex projects?

A Mission Operations Manager often navigates the challenge of aligning diverse teams—such as engineering, logistics, and communications—toward common mission objectives under tight deadlines. Effective communication, adaptability, and proactive problem-solving are key, as unforeseen technical or operational issues can arise. Balancing the needs and expectations of stakeholders while maintaining mission timelines requires strong leadership and organizational skills. Regular collaboration, status meetings, and clear delegation help ensure smooth operations and rapid response to any issues.

What is the difference between Mission Operations Manager vs Mission Planner?

AspectMission Operations ManagerMission Planner
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering, aerospace, or related field; certifications in project managementBachelor's degree in aerospace, engineering, or related field; experience with mission planning software
Work EnvironmentOversees operations, manages teams, coordinates mission activitiesDevelops mission plans, analyzes data, prepares operational procedures
Employer & Industry UsageSpace agencies, defense contractors, aerospace companiesSpace agencies, satellite operators, aerospace firms

The Mission Operations Manager focuses on overseeing and coordinating entire mission activities, ensuring successful execution. In contrast, the Mission Planner specializes in designing and preparing mission plans and procedures. Both roles are essential in space missions but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What cities are hiring for Mission Operations Manager jobs?

Cities with the most Mission Operations Manager job openings:

Who are the top companies hiring for Mission Operations Manager jobs?

The top employers for Mission Operations Manager jobs are:

What states have the most Mission Operations Manager jobs?

States with the most job openings for Mission Operations Manager jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Mission Operations Manager jobs?

For Mission Operations Manager jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Mission Operations Manager job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,456 per year, or $30.5 per hour.

Mission Operations Manager

Washington, DC • On-site

Bridge Defense
See more jobs at Bridge Defenseexternal

$150K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

About Bridge Defense. Bridge Defense is redefining how modern defense technology is delivered. Based in Washington, D.C., we are built for the dynamic mission environment facing the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, and federal law enforcement agencies. We provide full-spectrum national security solutions that combine secure infrastructure, cleared talent, and mission-ready software to meet evolving defense challenges. Our services include secure software development in classified environments and the design and implementation of advanced IT and cybersecurity capabilities ranging from secure cloud architectures and enterprise infrastructure to data center operations, scientific analysis, cutting-edge cyber defense, and intelligence analysis.
We are led by technologists and veterans with firsthand mission experience, which enables us to understand both the operational realities and the innovation needed to succeed. Our approach is agile and outcome-based, delivering results in weeks rather than months whenever possible.
At Bridge Defense we value people, integrity, and excellence. We foster an environment where innovation thrives in support of traditional mission requirements. Our team members receive competitive compensation, robust benefits, professional development and certification opportunities, and clear paths for growth while working on the nation's most critical projects.
Core Values:
  • Innovation & Responsiveness: We push beyond legacy models with efficient, tech-led solutions built to scale and evolve.
  • Trusted Performance: Security, compliance, and deep experience in delivering to demanding environments guides all we do.
  • Mission Focused Expertise: From veteran leadership to cleared engineers, our people understand both the technology and the mission.

Summary: Bridge Defense is seeking a full-time Mission Operations Manager to lead customer engagements across our product and engineering portfolio, supporting customers across the Department of War.
The Mission Operations Manager is the program lead on an engagement, paired with a Tech Lead and supported by a team of engineers. The Tech Lead owns whether the system was built right. You own whether the mission improved.
That distinction is the job. Every government program carries dependencies we do not control. Your job is to find the way through.
The work starts with getting to the truth of what the customer actually does, which is rarely what the requirement says. Those answers exist, in the data and in the people doing the work. This role goes and finds them.
What You Will Own:
  • The outcome. You are who we look to for the success of your engagement.
  • The problem definition. Establishing what the real problem is, validating it against evidence rather than assumption, and adapting the execution when the evidence demands it.
  • The relationship. Trust with end users, program leadership, technical stakeholders, and the acquisition and contracting personnel who determine whether good work ever reaches the field.
  • The team's priorities, in partnership with the Tech Lead, who owns the technical approach.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Understand the customer's mission, workflows, pain points, acquisition process, and previous attempts to solve the problem
  • Establish ground truth on how a system or workflow is actually used. Answer questions from data and direct engagement
  • Translate customer outcomes into scoped and prioritized work, distinguishing genuine mission requirements from distractions, individual preferences, and broader noise
  • Work blockers to resolution. Clear the path rather than document the delay
  • Redirect the effort when the evidence says the plan is wrong, and make that case credibly to both the customer and the team
  • Lead internal and external teams within approved authorities and constraints to deliver and sustain capability in operational environments
  • Bring customer and field lessons back to product and engineering to shape what we build and how we deliver it
  • Manage difficult conversations with tact, confidence, and transparency

Required Qualifications, Education, and Experience:
  • Demonstrated ownership of complex technical programs or deployments, with accountability for the outcome and not only the schedule. We weigh what you have owned and what changed because of it more heavily than years of experience
  • Fluency working directly with data. Faced with an ambiguous situation, you know what question to ask and what data would answer it.
  • Product judgment, demonstrated by a track record of deciding what should be built and what should not
  • A record of resolving obstacles that were outside your formal control
  • Comfort working in dynamic, high-stakes environments with tight timelines and shifting requirements
  • Understanding of government acquisition, budgeting, and contracting, or the demonstrated ability to come up to speed on it quickly
  • Ability to work on-site with government users, including in classified or secure environments
  • Active Secret security clearance at the time of hire, with the ability to obtain and maintain TS/SCI

Preferred Requirements:
  • Hands-on experience with Palantir Foundry or a comparable enterprise data platform, including working directly in its analytical and application-building tools
  • Experience in a deployment strategist, engagement manager, forward deployed, or mission success role at a technology company
  • Prior military service, prior government service, or experience delivering to a government customer
  • Familiarity with software development environments and DevSecOps toolchains
  • Active TS/SCI

Clearance: Active Secret security clearance is required at the time of hire. Active TS/SCI is strongly preferred. Candidates must be able to obtain and maintain TS/SCI.
Location: Hybrid, Washington, D.C. or Tampa, Florida
Salary Range: $150,000-$185,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, education, security clearance and certifications.
Benefits: Bridge Defense offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include medical, dental, vision, 401(k), paid time off, paid holidays, life insurance and disability coverage.
General Factors:
  • Depending on project requirements, may be required to work within a compressed schedule; overtime should be expected when schedules demand it
  • Hybrid remote and office, up to 40% travel
  • Willing to travel, when needed
  • No Relocation

Work Authorization:
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of applicable background investigations, verification of employment eligibility, customer approval, and the ability to obtain and maintain required security clearances.
Online applications, please.
When we review candidates' information, we are looking for the best matches for the position based on the qualifications listed in the job posting. If your skills and experience appear to match an open position, a recruitment service professional or a hiring manager may contact you.
Bridge Defense is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. It is the policy of the company to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, national origin or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. If you are a qualified disabled veteran or individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to use or access our online system, please contact us at 202-436-9222.

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