Orbit Operations Engineer

reflect-orbital· Engineering
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📍 Hawthorne, CAFullTime💰 USD 110K–185K

About this role

At Reflect, you will be expected to move fast, have a lot of ownership and, most importantly, be able to effect change. If this excites you, we are interested in hearing about your best work and accomplishments across any domain and from any points in your life.

About the Role

As an Orbit Operations Engineer, you'll own both the day-to-day operation of our spacecraft and the development of the operational infrastructure that makes it all work. This is a high-ownership role on a small, collaborative mission operations team. You won't just execute procedures, you'll write them, improve them, and help define how we operate as a company.

You'll monitor spacecraft health, investigate anomalies, plan maneuvers, and coordinate ground station passes. You'll also build and refine the tools, scripts, and processes that keep our future fleet running smoothly. As our constellation grows, you'll help shape operational strategies, maintain and update mission requirements, and drive continuous improvement across our satellite and ground segment.

Responsibilities

  • Monitor real-time telemetry and spacecraft subsystem health

  • Triage and investigate on-orbit anomalies end-to-end and document findings and lessons learned to improve fleet reliability

  • Perform long-term telemetry trending and performance analysis to detect subsystem degradation, refine alarm limits, and inform operational and design decisions

  • Plan and execute spacecraft maneuvers, station-keeping, and orbital adjustments

  • Coordinate ground station passes and scheduling

  • Support LEOP, bus and payload commissioning, and orbit-raising campaigns for new satellites, executing procedures and contributing to in-orbit test and checkout

  • Develop, validate, and maintain operational procedures and command sequences

  • Build automation for telemetry monitoring and alerting, pass scheduling, routine commanding, and anomaly detection and response

  • Collaborate with spacecraft engineering teams to define CONOPS, fault management, and spacecraft procedures

  • Support deployment and testing of ground software updates and infrastructure changes

  • Validate procedures, command sequences, and automation against simulation and hardware-in-the-loop environments prior to on-orbit execution

  • Define, validate, and maintain onboard FDIR and fault management responses

  • Plan and execute operational readiness activities, including simulations and dress rehearsals

  • Participate in 24/7 rotating shift work to meet mission needs

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM field

  • 3+ years of experience in satellite mission operations or a related field

  • Solid understanding of spacecraft systems and subsystem interactions

  • Proficiency with mission control software (e.g. OpenC3 COSMOS, Kratos EPOCH, L3Harris InControl, or similar)

  • Strong programming and scripting skills (Python, C++ preferred)

  • Familiarity with Linux environments and command-line tools

  • Experience with DevOps tools and practices (Git, Docker, CI/CD)

  • Familiarity with RF systems, ground station operations, or link budgets

  • Experience developing operational requirements or CONOPS documentation

  • Strong troubleshooting skills, with experience using data analysis to diagnose complex systems

  • Clear written and verbal communication skills

  • Sound judgment and composure in real-time, high-pressure operational environments

  • Experience operating multi-satellite constellations or fleets is a plus

Even if you don’t meet 100% of the above qualifications, we are likely still interested in hearing from you. Hiring exceptional individuals is our #1 priority, and we believe that exceptional people often have highly unusual backgrounds.

We are also interested in carving out unique roles for unconventional people that we are excited about working with.

Benefits

Reflect Orbital’s success will hinge on our team, which is why our compensation and benefits plan is designed to reward our employees and support their families as generously as we’re able.

  • Broad choice of medical/dental/vision coverage, Reflect covers 100% of each base-policy

  • Access to HSA, FSA, and 401K

  • Unlimited paid time off, two-weeks per year encouraged

  • Healthy lunches provided daily

Equal Opportunity

Reflect Orbital is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Reflect Orbital 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.

More about Reflect Orbital:

Learn more about our team here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Orbit Operations Engineer role at reflect-orbital?
The listed salary for this Orbit Operations Engineer position at reflect-orbital is USD 110K–185K. This is an FullTime role.
Where is the Orbit Operations Engineer position at reflect-orbital located?
This Orbit Operations Engineer role at reflect-orbital is based in Hawthorne, CA. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Orbit Operations Engineer role at reflect-orbital full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a FullTime position. It is posted as a Orbit Operations Engineer role in the Engineering department at reflect-orbital.
Which team or department does the Orbit Operations Engineer at reflect-orbital belong to?
This Orbit Operations Engineer position is part of the Engineering department at reflect-orbital. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Orbit Operations Engineer position at reflect-orbital?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to reflect-orbital's official application portal hosted on ashby where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Orbit Operations Engineer job at reflect-orbital posted?
This Orbit Operations Engineer position at reflect-orbital was posted on Dec 9, 2025. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Orbit Operations Engineer
reflect-orbital · 💰 USD 110K–185K
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