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Space System Operations Engineer

Golden, Colorado

About Loft Federal

Loft Federal is committed to delivering the U.S. national security space community a fast, affordable, and streamlined pathway to orbit. As a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Loft Orbital Solutions, Inc., we specialize in providing mission-ready space infrastructure with unmatched efficiency.

At Loft, we empower our team with autonomy, ownership, and bold problem-solving opportunities while fostering a tight-knit, supportive environment. We believe that diversity, inclusivity, and community are the foundation of an open and innovative culture. We value kind, collaborative, and mission-driven teammates who excel in problem-solving and communication—because great solutions come from great teams.

Are you ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? 

As a Space System Operations Engineer, you will be the first line of defense for ensuring safe operations of our satellites and customer payloads. Using Cockpit, our cutting-edge satellite operations software, you will be responsible for coordinating, scheduling, and executing spacecraft and payload activities across multiple satellites, ensuring that company and customer objectives can be met. You will monitor the health and safety of multiple spacecraft, respond to anomalies and triage issues when appropriate.  Additionally, as a Space System Operations Engineer, you will be empowered to develop and update operations procedures and scripts in an effort to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations.

Mission Objectives

  • Support system readiness, planning, preparation, execution and evaluation for satellite launch and early orbit operations, on-orbit operations and end-of-life retirement and disposal. 
  • Work with Ground Software, Space Platform, and Payload SMEs to develop and update operations procedures and tools for the Mission Deployment and Execution team. 
  • Issue commands, directives and other instructions to on-orbit assets. 
  • Provide customer and payload provider support for the utilization of Cockpit requesting operations. 
  • Provide satellite, payload, and ground system performance monitoring, responding to alerts, executing anomaly response procedures, and reporting status to the customer.  
  • Execute mission and pre-pass planning, scheduling, data trending and analysis, real-time operations, and spacecraft/ground system anomaly resolution. 
  • Identify opportunities for automation and process improvement and communicate those to the rest of the team by creating and tracking tickets through completion. 

Mission Mandates

  • The ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance is required. 
  • Must be a US Citizen for consideration. 
  • Previous experience with on-orbit satellite operations. 
  • Basic python scripting or other programming experience in linux/unix environment.
  • Support a standard 9-5 work week schedule with ability to support occasional off hours and rotating shifts for major activities such as launch and commissioning. 

Mission Credentials

  • Preference will be given to candidates with 1) a DoD or Intelligence Community Top Secret background investigation with at least 3 years of eligibility remaining or CE status; and SCI eligibility with current experience in SCI programs, other control systems, and/or Special Access Programs, or 2) a current in-scope DoD SECRET background investigation with at least 3 years of eligibility remaining, or Continuous Evaluation (CE) status.
  • Bachelors degree in a technical field or equivalent experience
Per Colorado law, we are required to disclose the base compensation range for this role. This range is intentionally wide as we assess individuals based on their unique abilities and experience to find the best fit for our needs. Ultimately, your compensation will be determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. 
 
In addition to a competitive salary and benefits package, you will find a truly remarkable culture guided by transparency and collaboration and work that is challenging and meaningful. We can't wait to meet you and see what you may add to our team!

Salary Range

$70,000 - $120,000 USD

Equal Employment Opportunity & Affirmative Action 

Loft Federal is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information, disability, pregnancy, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation due to a disability when applying for an open position, please contact us at recruiting@loftfederal.com for assistance.

We Hire for Talent, Not Just Resumes

Research shows that while men apply for jobs when they meet about 60% of the qualifications, women and other underrepresented groups tend to apply only when they meet 100% of the listed criteria. At Loft Federal, we value diverse perspectives, respectful debate, and people who challenge assumptions. If you’re excited about a role but don’t meet every requirement, we strongly encourage you to apply. We welcome all.

Third-Party Recruiters & Agencies

No outside recruiters, please. Loft Federal does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, staffing agencies, or third-party recruiters. We will not pay fees for candidates submitted without a signed agreement in place. 

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