ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Spacecraft Operations Jobs (NOW HIRING)

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsTravel JobsAviation JobsAerospace Engineer JobsSpacecraft Operations Jobs

Spacecraft Operations information

See salary details

$36K

$85K

$135K

How much do spacecraft operations jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for spacecraft operations in the United States is $85,029.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,500.00 and $94,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is spacecraft operations?

A Spacecraft Operations job involves monitoring, controlling, and maintaining the health and functionality of a spacecraft. Operators ensure the spacecraft follows its planned mission by sending commands, analyzing telemetry data, and troubleshooting issues that arise. These professionals work closely with engineers and mission planners to ensure smooth operations, whether for satellites, probes, or crewed spacecraft. The role often requires shift work, as space missions operate 24/7. Strong technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and knowledge of mission-specific software and systems are essential.

What does a spacecraft operations specialist do?

Professionals in Spacecraft Operations are responsible for monitoring spacecraft health, analyzing telemetry data, executing mission commands, and troubleshooting anomalies in real time. Daily tasks often include coordinating with engineers, mission planners, and ground station teams to maintain smooth operations and prepare for mission events such as maneuvers or data downlinks. The role may also involve shift work, as many spacecraft require 24/7 oversight. Strong collaboration and communication are key, as team members regularly share critical updates and work together to resolve technical challenges. This dynamic environment offers the opportunity to directly support groundbreaking missions and contribute to the success of complex space operations.

What skills and qualifications are needed for spacecraft operations?

Excelling in Spacecraft Operations requires a solid background in aerospace engineering, physics, or a related field, along with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Familiarity with spacecraft control systems, mission planning software, and telemetry monitoring tools such as SCOS-2000 or GMSEC is highly valued, and some roles may require security clearances or certifications from agencies like NASA or ESA. Attention to detail, clear communication, and teamwork are critical soft skills in this high-stakes environment. These competencies are essential to ensure mission safety, coordinate complex tasks, and respond effectively to rapidly changing scenarios during space operations.

More about Spacecraft Operations jobs

What cities are hiring for Spacecraft Operations jobs?

Cities with the most Spacecraft Operations job openings:

What states have the most Spacecraft Operations jobs?

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

What job categories do people searching Spacecraft Operations jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Spacecraft Operations jobs are:

Spacecraft Operations jobs near you
Infographic showing various Spacecraft Operations job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, and 4% Part Time. Highlights an 92% In-person, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $85,029 per year, or $40.9 per hour.

Systems Engineer, Spacecraft Operations

Costa Mesa, CA

Anduril Industries
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing • 501 - 1,000 employees

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 17 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Great coworkers

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Learn more about Anduril Industriesexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

ABOUT THE TEAM

Anduril's Space team is dedicated to expanding our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. We're developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested war-fighting domain.

ABOUT THE JOB

As a Spacecraft Operations Systems Engineer for our Space team, you own the satellite operations and mission control center for each of Anduril's on-orbit systems. You will be responsible for authoring mission control procedures and processes, working with the engineering team to develop mission concept of operations and become familiar with Anduril's ground software enterprise and orbital flight software system. The Spacecraft Mission Operations team will work closely with related teams, such as the spacecraft design, GNC, ground and flight software, etc., to help improve both the ground and satellite-based capabilities but above all else will be responsible for the health and safety of Anduril's fleet of spacecraft.
This role is directly tied to ongoing, funded programs within Anduril's Space Business Line. The programs require building and fielding a resilient, software-defined spacecraft systems across numerous mission threads. We work with mission partners and customers to deploy reliable and robust capabilities on operationally-relevant fielding timelines to meet complex challenges across the DOD and IC.

WHAT YOU'LL DO
  • Own the mission operations plans and procedures for various spacecraft programs in all orbital regimes
  • Integrate with legacy systems to unlock 21st-century capabilities
  • Develop modern, software-defined approaches to autonomous spacecraft operations
  • Collaborate across multiple teams to plan, build, and test complex functionality
  • Create and analyze metrics that are leveraged for debugging and monitoring
  • Triage issues, root cause failures, and coordinate next-steps
  • Coordinate with end-users, other operators and customers to turn needs into features while balancing user experience with engineering constraints
  • Train other operators on the use and operation of Anduril spacecraft
  • Support challenging schedules during ground testing, launch windows and on-orbit operations of the spacecraft systems
  • Work with other teams and government agencies to achieve the required licenses (FCC, NOAA, etc) and comply with regulations for operating spacecraft
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
  • Strong engineering background from industry or school, ideally in areas/fields such as Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering, or other engineering degree
  • 4+ years of professional satellite or spacecraft operations experience
  • Experience conducting spacecraft operations and satellite command and control with an emphasis on system reliability and uptime
  • Ability to quickly understand and navigate complex systems and detailed requirements
  • Capable of solving complex technical problems with little oversight
  • Clear communication and organizational skills including documentation and training material
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Eligible to obtain and maintain an active U.S. Top Secret security clearance
  • Experience operating government, DoD, or IC spacecraft
  • Experience with Python and Linux systems
  • Experience with MATLAB, Simulink, or STK
  • A desire to work on critical software in the space domain
  • Experience developing Fault Management Systems Architecture
  • Experience with testing/validation leveraging FlatSats, Hardware-in-the-Loop testbeds
  • Exposure to ground station operations and providers
Anduril Industries logo

About Anduril Industries

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Anduril Industries is a trailblazer in the technology industry based in Costa Mesa, CA, US. Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, the company focuses on developing innovative technology to equip and empower those in the defense sector. Its primary products include cutting-edge autonomous systems and AI software that assist in combating threats to national and global security. The mission of Anduril Industries is to integrate technology and defense by building transformative, scalable solutions that ensure a safer world.

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

501 - 1,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Costa Mesa, CA, US

Year founded

2017

Social media

FacebookTwitter

View All Anduril Industries Jobs

Working at Anduril

About Anduril, in their own words

From Anduril

As the world enters an era of strategic competition, Anduril delivers cutting-edge autonomy, AI, computer vision, sensor fusion, and networking technology to the warfighter in months, not years.

What Anduril employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply