Denver, CO | Full Time | Senior Level
Space is the infrastructure layer for humanity’s next industrial revolution. While reusable rockets have opened the door, true economic transformation requires orbital logistics that are as accessible and reliable as commercial aviation. At Lux Aeterna, we’re building that future by developing the first fully reusable satellite platform built for reliable reentry, recovery, and rapid redeployment, transforming space from a one-way street into a two-way highway for innovation and commerce.
We are seeking an exceptional Senior Mission Operations Manager to take end-to-end ownership of Lux Aeterna’s flights getting Delphi-1 to the pad, running it on orbit, and bringing it home. This role spans program execution in the lead-up to launch and mission operations leadership through commissioning, on-orbit, deorbit, reentry, and recovery.
You will start as the program manager keeping Delphi-1 on schedule owning the integrated plan, driving cross-team execution, surfacing risk, and making sure the engineering / operations organization is pointed at the right work in the right order. As we approach launch, you transition into the Mission Operations Lead: building the concept of operations, standing up the mission ops team, training the console, running rehearsals, and ultimately commanding the vehicle in flight. This role will then transition into the responsible party for developing how Lux Aeterna manages fleet flight operations, from team building, process development, all the way through realization for a fleet-based satellite operating model.
This is the seat for someone who wants real ownership early, who is energized by both the discipline of program execution and the thrill of flying spacecraft, and who wants to grow into the person responsible for our missions in flight.
This is a unique opportunity to:
Own a full reusable-spacecraft mission lifecycle from program plan through launch, on-orbit, reentry, recovery, and refurbishment hand-off
Build Lux Aeterna’s mission operations function from zero: CONOPs, procedures, flight rules, and the team that flies the vehicle
Serve as Mission Manager / Flight Director on console for first-of-kind reusable-satellite flights
Work directly with the founders and technical leadership to shape how Lux Aeterna executes and flies missions
Grow into the mission operations leader for the Delphi platform and follow-on programs
Pioneering Technology: We’re developing the first reusable satellite platform with controlled return capability, fundamentally transforming space from a one-way journey to a two-way highway
Real Impact: Your work will enable new industries in space manufacturing, research, and logistics while pioneering sustainable space infrastructure
Speed & Autonomy: We maintain parallel hardware development streams and empower engineers to innovate rapidly while upholding rigorous aerospace standards
World-Class Team: Work alongside experts from leading aerospace companies and research institutions, building technology that will reshape humanity’s access to space
You are the single accountable owner for whether the mission flies, executes, and comes home as planned. You start in the program manager seat and transition into Mission Manager / Flight Director as the vehicle approaches launch.
Own the Delphi-1 integrated master schedule, critical path, and external partner deliverables.
Run the program cadence, risk management, and other programmatic processes. Surface issues early and close decisions
Translate engineering trades, customer ICDs, and FAA/range submittals into actions with owners and exit criteria; run vendor programs end-to-end and keep budget, headcount, and cost-to-complete visible
Author the Concept of Operations, console procedures, flight rules, anomaly playbooks, and mission timeline — partnering with GNC, FSW, GSW, and Avionics
Stand up the Mission Operations Center, lead rehearsals, and drive the Flight Readiness and Mission Readiness Reviews
Hire, train, and certify the mission operations team (internal or external): console operators, flight directors, payload operators. Define the on-call rotation that supports flight
Serve as Mission Manager / Flight Director from pre-launch through on-orbit and own the call to proceed, hold, or abort, and run real-time coordination with KSAT, SpaceX, the range, customers, and recovery partners
Lead recovery operations and the post-flight debrief; feed lessons learned into Delphi block upgrades and follow-on missions
BS in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems Engineering, or equivalent technical field (or equivalent practical experience)
7+ years in aerospace or other high-stakes hardware programs, with a mix of program/project management and operations experience
Demonstrated ownership of an integrated master schedule on a flight or comparable hardware program (satellite, launch vehicle, aircraft, missile, or critical infrastructure)
Direct experience in a mission operations, flight test, or launch environment including console time, procedure authorship, or flight-director-style real-time decision making in aerospace programs.
Strong technical fluency. Comfortable reading ICDs, requirements, and engineering analyses, and pushing back when the plan and the physics disagree
Track record of running cross-functional teams without formal authority and getting senior engineers to commit and deliver
Excellent written communication: procedures, flight rules, status, and exec-level reporting that people actually trust
High composure under pressure and sound judgment with incomplete information
Comfort with ambiguity and bias toward action over analysis paralysis
Ability to operate effectively in fast build-test-iterate environments with high ownership and minimal supervision
Prior tour as a Flight Director, Mission Manager, Mission Director, or Lead Mission Operator on an orbital or reentry program
Experience standing up a mission ops organization from zero: hiring, training, certifying operators, building the MOC
Familiarity with reentry, recovery, or asset-return operations (capsule, glider, booster, or experimental vehicle)
Working knowledge of FAA Part 450, range safety, and human-spaceflight-adjacent safety standards (SSCMAN 91-710, AFSPCMAN, NASA STD)
Hands-on with ground-segment / MCC tooling like commanding, telemetry, mission planning, pass scheduling including KSAT or equivalent ground-network experience
Familiarity with CCSDS, telemetry decom, and ground-segment integration
Early-stage startup or new-program experience, especially in hardware or deep-tech companies
Comfort building lightweight systems and processes that scale, without over-engineering them
Military aviation, test, or operations background welcome in place of or alongside an engineering degree
We are based in Denver, CO and believe in the power of in-person collaboration. We are onsite 5 days/week by default, but flexible when life requires it. This role will include travel to vendor sites, partner facilities, the launch site, and the recovery zone in the run-up to and during flight.
Certain roles may involve access to export-controlled technical data. To comply with U.S. export-control laws, access may be limited to individuals who qualify as a “U.S. person” under 22 C.F.R. §120.62 or who otherwise may lawfully receive such access.
Certain roles may involve access to export-controlled technical data. To comply with U.S. export-control laws, access may be limited to individuals who qualify as a “U.S. person” under 22 C.F.R. §120.62 or who otherwise may lawfully receive such access.
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