Manager - Mission Operations

At ispace U.S., we’re not just going to the Moon—we’re redefining how we get there. Our missions push the boundaries of human and robotic exploration, driven by our belief: “Expand our Planet. Expand our Future.” By providing cost-effective lunar transportation, we are pioneering a future where space is within reach for scientific discovery, commercial ventures, and sustainable exploration.  

With locations in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States, ispace is rapidly growing and leading the way in lunar exploration and development. Our U.S. branch is based in Englewood, Colorado, and focuses on high-capacity payload lunar landers designed to support future lunar missions. Our team is made up of innovators, problem-solvers, and visionaries committed to making space more accessible and fostering the next generation of space exploration. 

Let’s go to the Moon together! Our team is growing, and we are actively seeking talented individuals who share our passion for space. 

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated Mission Operations Manager with a strong background in aerospace operations to serve as a personnel manager and subsystem technical authority for a team of Mission Operators ready to fly a spacecraft to the far side of the moon. The Mission Operations Manager will play a critical role in the successful development and deployment of our lunar exploration spacecraft and ground segment, ensuring that our designs meet the rigorous demands of our space missions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and lead a team of Mission Operators to fly a spacecraft and land on the far side of the moon.
• Ensure ground and flight segment architecture designed by the Mission Ops team complies with mission and customer requirements, aerospace standards, government licensing, and safety regulations.
• Develop nominal and contingency operations plans from pre-launch through end of mission disposal, including CONOPS, power budgets, uplink/downlink schedules, maneuver planning, and payload operations.
• Foster a culture of trust, collaboration, commitment and follow-through, striving for continuous improvement.
• Mentor and develop team members, helping them grow through new opportunities, training, and continuous feedback.
• Estimate and acquire resources (staff, tools, budget, schedule, etc) needed to complete the team’s assigned scope.
• Perform gap analyses to identify areas of unassigned scope that require execution to support mission success.
• Create, review, and approve technical documentation.
• Contribute to requirement development and V&V activities.
• Work with the Flight Software team to define and implement system and subsystem operational modes and Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) architecture.
• Improve and/or create processes, tools, and systems to help the team work more efficiently.
• Work with the Program Management and Supply Chain groups to build strong supplier relationships and enforce accountability for timely and reliable execution.
• Develop and implement engineering strategies that enhance our capabilities and align with company goals.
• Work with the Program Management group to plan and commit to an execution baseline and hold team accountable to meet milestone deliverables.
• Aid in cross functional coordination to ensure seamless integration with other groups throughout the program life cycle.
• Identify and mitigate technical, schedule, and cost risks that can otherwise inhibit progress towards mission success.
• Present technical briefings and updates on design progress and challenges to stakeholders.
• Develop strong communication channels with our international counterparts while abiding by TAA and ITAR/EAR regulations.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field is required. We will consider a combination of education and related experience.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in aerospace engineering or operations field.
• At least 2 years of leadership experience managing and building engineering teams.
• Broad experience operating multiple spacecraft subsystems simultaneously while monitoring health and status.
• Experience building and/or testing flat sat HIL/SIL environments.
• Familiarity with federal and international regulations applicable to aerospace operations.
• Familiarity with spacecraft operations ground segment tools, including YAMCS and Grafana.
• Capable of making rational decisions in a fast paced and high stress Mission Control Center environment.
• Project management skills, including scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Capable of identifying and tackling unbounded problems by distilling clear and reasonable action plans for the team.
• Comfortable making decisions with limited information or lack of consensus.
• Communicates in a clear and concise manner, eliminating areas of ambiguity in direction.
• Capable of balancing competing priorities from simultaneous programs.
• Demonstrates extreme discipline by consistently delivering on commitments over extended periods of time.
• Comfortable providing and receiving feedback and facilitating team conversations involving constructive conflict.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline.
• Experience identifying and navigating the challenges of a startup environment.
• Experience operating deep space missions on console in a leadership or director role.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced design and development environment
• Schedule may vary depending on program development needs; flexibility required
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required

• Health Coverage: Competitive medical, vision, and dental plans, with 100% company-paid options available for employees. 
• Hybrid Work: Flexibility to work remotely and in-office, depending on your role and the stage of our program. 
• Commuter Perks: Company-paid RTD EcoPass for buses and light rail. 
• Lunch Perks: Monthly stipend to enjoy meals from our café. 
• Paid Time Off: 18 vacation days, 6 sick days, and 14 paid holidays. 
• Retirement: 401(k) plan with company matching. 
• Travel: Opportunities for domestic and international travel. 
• Stock Options: Participation in our stock option program. 
• Learning & Development: Ample opportunities to grow, including lunch-and-learns, skills training, and stipends for professional development. 
• Team Culture: A fun and casual environment with regular team gatherings, including monthly TGIF events to connect and unwind. 




We welcome candidates with diverse experience levels and evaluate the best fit on an individual basis. Your final job level and salary will be determined based on your skills, experience, and the impact you can bring to the role.

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At ispace, we believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences, even if you don’t meet every listed requirement. If you’re passionate about our mission and think you can contribute, we encourage you to apply. Your unique skills and experiences may be exactly what we need to grow and succeed together. 

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR .here.   

ispace is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with ispace 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. 

All applicants who are offered employment with ispace US will be subject to a background investigation. Offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background investigation conducted in accordance with Company policies and all applicable laws.

ispace Technologies, US, Inc. is a drug-free workplace. 

ispace Technologies, US, Inc. participates in the E-Verify program.