Mission Operations / Ground Software Lead

An aerospace client is seeking a full-time Mission Operations / Ground Software Lead to own the architecture and development of an automation-first mission operations system for a rapidly scaling satellite constellation. You will build and lead the MOS software team, guide critical build-versus-buy decisions, and deliver the mission planning and operational capabilities needed to support the company's first 20 satellites and future growth to hundreds of vehicles.

Responsibilities:

• Own the Mission Operations System (MOS) architecture and drive the build-vs-buy-vs-hybrid decision for operating a fleet scaling from 20 to 400 satellites and 4 to 100 LEONs sites, designed automation-first from day one.
  
• Stand up and lead the MOS software team, and own the flight-dynamics make/buy call for the constellation.
  
• Own contact scheduling and mission planning across the constellation and ground-station network.
  
• Deliver a 60-90 day build/buy/hybrid recommendation (including flight dynamics) as your first output in the role.
  
• Get MOS operationally ready to support the first 20 satellites by the end of 2027.
  

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field (M.S. preferred).
  
• 5-10+ years of experience in ground systems for space communications, TT&C or telecom networks, teleports/ground station services, communications infrastructure, large-scale distributed systems, or other related industries.
  
• Significant contributions to deploying new capabilities across the full engineering lifecycle from requirements definition to vendor integration and sustained operations.
  
• Proven experience, including lab and field troubleshooting, deploying or operating complete systems: power → IP networking → timing → RF → remote monitoring,
  
• Strong systems thinking across interfaces, mission operations workflows, and service reliability engineering.
  
• Ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced startup environment and drive complex programs to completion.
  
• Excellent professional and interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written.
  

• Demonstrated ownership of deploying new operational capabilities that include hardware, software, and operations.
  
• Experience supporting or deploying navigation, timing, or high-integrity services (PNT, time transfer, or integrity monitoring).
  
• Experience with outdoor / remote site engineering including NEMA/IP-rated enclosures, thermal management, environmental sensors, grounding/bonding, and lightning/surge protection.
  
• Experience with Networking including VPN, firewalls, remote access controls, segmented LANs, cellular router integration, reliability patterns, network monitoring.
  
• Experience working with commercial ground station providers and managing technical + programmatic delivery (interfaces, scheduling, SLAs, performance).
  
• Background in RF systems, signal monitoring, or ground-based transmit/receive infrastructure (especially in protected uplink bands such as S- or C-band).
  
• Familiarity with LEO constellation operations (multi-satellite scheduling, rapid scaling, automation, and cross-functional coordination).
  
• Experience defining or operating managed services with subscription-like commercial models, performance reporting, and customer success workflows.