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Mission Operations Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mission Operations Specialist

El Segundo, CA ยท On-site

$54K - $73K/yr

The Mission Operations Specialist serves as the frontline technical representative supporting internal R&D, deployed systems and customer operations. This role is responsible for fielding and ...

Sr. Mission Operations Engineer

Hawthorne, CA ยท On-site

$174K - $196K/yr

Sr. Mission Operations Engineer Department: Mission Systems Employment Type: Full Time Location: Hawthorne, California Reporting To: George Motter Compensation: $174,000 - $196,000 / year Description ...

Sr. Mission Operations Engineer

Hawthorne, CA ยท On-site

$174K - $196K/yr

The Sr. Mission Operations Engineer will perform the development, integration, testing, and execution of mission operations concepts for crewed and uncrewed lunar rover programs supporting ...

Mission Operations Engineer

Saratoga, CA ยท On-site

$120K - $200K/yr

The Mission Operations Engineer will lead the testing effort for the Mission Ops program working onsite in our Saratoga, CA office location. The ideal candidate has experience as an individual ...

WI ยท On-site

$120 - $180/hr

Firefly Aerospace is seeking a Mission Operations Engineer III . We are scaling our operations for complex, multi-manifested missions to locations like the Lunar Far Side and South Pole. In this role ...

Mission Operations Engineer

New York, NY ยท On-site

$140K - $190K/yr

Role Overview As a Mission Operations Engineer at Method, you'll be responsible for the technical delivery of Method platform and directly working with users to ensure their deployment is generating ...

Mission Operations Engineer

Saratoga, CA ยท On-site

$76K - $103K/yr

The Mission Operations Engineer will lead the testing effort for the Mission Ops program working onsite in our Saratoga, CA office location. The ideal candidate has experience as an individual ...

$120 - $146/hr

Mission Operations Technical Writer Department: Mission Systems Employment Type: Full Time Location: Hawthorne, California Compensation: $120,000 - $146,000 / year Description Astrolab is The Lunar ...

Mission Operations Technical Writer Department: Mission Systems Employment Type: Full Time Location: Hawthorne, California Compensation: $120,000 - $146,000 / year Description Astrolab is The Lunar ...

The Mission Operations Technical Writer will assist in developing, maintaining, and controlling all mission operations documentation required to safely and effectively conduct operations throughout ...

Showing results 21-40

Mission Operations information

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How much do mission operations jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for mission operations in the United States is $19.82, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.38 and $22.36 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is mission operations?

Mission Operations refers to the planning, coordination, and execution of activities required to support and manage a mission, typically in aerospace, satellite, or space exploration contexts. Mission operations teams monitor systems, analyze data, and respond to anomalies to ensure the mission's objectives are achieved safely and efficiently. These professionals work closely with engineers, scientists, and project managers before, during, and after mission execution. Their work is critical to the success and longevity of complex missions, such as satellite deployments or interplanetary probes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a mission operations specialist?

To excel as a Mission Operations Specialist, you need a solid background in systems engineering, problem-solving, and a relevant STEM degree such as aerospace engineering or physics. Familiarity with mission control software, satellite communication systems, and certifications like ITAR compliance are commonly required. Strong teamwork, attention to detail, and effective communication distinguish top performers in this field. These skills ensure safe, efficient operations and successful coordination of complex, high-stakes missions.

What are some common challenges faced by mission operations teams, and how can new team members prepare for them?

Mission Operations teams often work in high-pressure environments where real-time decision-making is critical, especially during key mission phases such as launches or anomaly responses. New team members may find it challenging to adapt to the fast-paced nature and the need for precise communication among cross-functional teams. To prepare, it's helpful to familiarize yourself with mission protocols, simulation exercises, and the specific systems you'll be supporting. Building strong collaboration skills and learning from experienced colleagues can also make the transition smoother.

What is the difference between Mission Operations vs Mission Planning?

AspectMission OperationsMission Planning
Primary FocusExecuting and managing ongoing missions, ensuring operational successDesigning and preparing mission strategies and procedures
Required SkillsOperational management, real-time decision making, technical troubleshootingStrategic planning, technical analysis, coordination
Work EnvironmentMission control centers, field operationsDesign offices, planning meetings
CertificationsOften requires technical certifications, project managementRequires planning and technical certifications, project management

Mission Operations focuses on the execution and management of active missions, ensuring smooth operations. In contrast, Mission Planning involves designing mission strategies and preparing for upcoming missions. Both roles require technical expertise and often overlap in skills, but they serve different stages of the mission lifecycle.

More about Mission Operations jobs

What cities are hiring for Mission Operations jobs?

Cities with the most Mission Operations job openings:

What states have the most Mission Operations jobs?

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

Infographic showing various Mission Operations job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,222 per year, or $19.8 per hour.

Mission Operations Specialist

CHAOS Industries

El Segundo, CA โ€ข On-site

$54K - $73K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 16 days ago


Job description

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage-domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.ย 

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and London. For more information, please visit www.chaosinc.com.

Role Overview:

The Mission Operations Specialist serves as the frontline technical representative supporting internal R&D,ย deployed systems and customer operations. This role is responsible for fielding and troubleshooting CHAOS Industries' software and hardware capabilities in operational environments.ย This role requires strong initiative:ย build trust, learn, drive, and deliver outcomes and flawless execution.ย 

A Mission Operations Specialist works directly with front-lineย military, government, and commercial customers to ensure mission success.ย Successful candidates thrive in ambiguous environments,ย possessย strong technical aptitude, and are comfortable operating independently in the field.ย The ideal candidate demonstrates exceptional planning and coordination skills, an aptitude for flawless execution and an eagerness to apply them to the tactical deployment of CHAOS Industries systems. This role sits within the Operations & Training group on the Mission team.ย ย 

Responsibilities:

  • System Deployment & Fieldingย ย 
    • You'reย excited to be where the customer needs us.ย 
    • You are detail-oriented to ensure everythingย for aย givenย deploymentย is atย maximum readiness andย gets where it needs to be, on time.ย ย 
    • You will coordinate, plan,ย andย setup forย internal R&D testing,ย customerย demonstrations,ย exercisesย and deliveries.ย 
    • Support installation, configuration, integration, and fielding of company systems.ย 
    • Cross-functionally coordinateย withย logistics, engineering, and program teams to ensure successful deployments.ย 
    • Success in this role meansย you'reย theย customer'sย most trustedย tacticalย partner.ย 
  • ย Know our products - know the missionย 
    • This role requires you to have intimate product knowledge andย willingness to be hands-onย withย hardware in the field with customers. Successย requiresย a thorough understanding of our technology, capabilities, and resources squared with the mission and user requirements.ย 
    • You will leadย basicย system troubleshooting withย confidenceย and support CHAOSย engineering teams in the diagnosisย and resolution ofย hardware, software, networking, and system integration issues.ย 
    • Escalate complex technical issues to engineering teams while providing detailed reproduction steps and operational context.
    • Work full-time onsiteย at our Headquarters in Hawthorne, CA.ย ย 
    • Regular CONUS/OCONUS travel required for product testing, customer demonstrations and customer delivery (50%).ย 

Minimum Requirements:

  • 3+ years of experience supporting military, government, or enterprise technology systems.
  • A solution-oriented mentality;ย you know to go to obtain missing information, use creativity to problem solve, and relish the opportunity to take on a difficult problem.ย Strong troubleshooting skills across hardware, software, and networking environments.
  • Experience with tactical communications, networking, sensors, UAS, C2 systems, or AI-enabled platforms.ย 
  • You enjoy getting your hands dirty, literally: CHAOS is an engineering-first company with a hardware component. ย 
  • Abilityย toย seamlesslyย organizeย and navigateย overseas engagements,ย operatingย in remote areas and able to plan for and mitigate riskย to reputation,ย missionย and personnel. We intend to go with our customers to where they need us most to deliver.ย 
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.ย ย 
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Officeย and communication software like Slack, Teams and Zoom.ย ย 
  • Active U.S. security clearance or ability to obtain one.

Preferred Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree desired (but not required) in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, Military Science, or related field.
  • Previous FSR, FAE, Systems Engineer, Solutions Engineer, or Technical Operations Engineer experience with a hardware component.
  • Knowledge of radar, RF, sensor, weapons systems, defense technology and communications preferred. ย 
  • Military background or extensive experience working with militaries.

Why CHAOS?

  • Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
  • Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
  • Our Perks: Free daily lunch, 'No meeting Fridays', unlimited PTO, casual dress code
  • Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
  • Team Growth: 250 employees and counting across 5 global offices
Hourly Rate: $35.00 - $58.00 per hour

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.ย 


Recruiting Agencies: CHAOS Industries does not accept unsolicited resumes or outreach. Unsolicited submissions will not be reviewed or compensated.

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