Senior Mission Operations Engineer (Operations focused)

ispace, inc is looking for Senior Mission Operations Engineer to join our growing team.

The Mission Test and Operations team is the heart of mission execution, where we prove readiness on the ground and then step on console to guide the spacecraft to the Moon. As a Senior Mission Operations Engineer, you will be responsible for operational preparations and will certify to sit on console as a Flight Director.

In this role you will have the opportunity to lead or support the operation of various activities such as orbital trajectory maneuvers, payload operations, the landing sequence, and surface operations. The job begins from the design phase of the mission lifecycle and ends at decommissioning and closeout. You will both prepare the products and crew for flight readiness and then execute that plan after separation from the launch vehicle. If you embody discipline, safety, quality, have a team-driven spirit, and would like to call the Mission Control Center home, then this is the moonshot for you.

Why This Role Matters

By preparing flight products and leading on-console operations, you will:

• Ensure the safety and quality of flight products before they are used to perform critical operations in-flight
• Work closely with the Mission Director to deliver the Flight Segment and execute the mission
• Become the ultimate authority of real-time spacecraft safety during operations and an integral part of achieving mission success

Key Responsibilities

Flight Product Development

• Author and validate mission critical flight products such as checklists, procedures/scripts, telemetry displays, and alarms
• Develop workflows and processes that will be used to facilitate operations
• Design concepts of operations (ConOps), requirements, and subsystem manuals in coordination with design engineers
• Identify key flight and console rules to enforce operational safety

Training and Rehearsals

• Prove personnel readiness by creating training materials and evaluating crew performance via simulations
• Execute rehearsals to validate mission requirements and show operational readiness before flight
• Collaborate on mission scenarios testing to ensure the “test-as-we-fly” principle

Test & Flight Operations

• Test and validate the flight segment through system-level test campaigns across various fidelity models (testbench, EM, FM)
• Operate the spacecraft on-console in a fast paced environment, including 24/7 shift work and on-call duties during critical mission phases
• Lead real-time anomaly resolution by coordinating with subsystem experts to perform root-cause analysis and implement contingency strategies under time constraints

Required Skills

Language

Professional Level English (ability write and verbalize complex technical concepts); Japanese language ability is a plus but not required

· Experience

5+ years of experience with proven track record executing complex operations in the aerospace field

Soft Skills

Strong situational awareness, detail-oriented, ability to make decisions under pressure, adaptable, experience with Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles, and strong leadership qualities

Operations Tools

Familiarity with using Mission Control Software (Yamcs, Grafana, Mission Databases etc.)

System Knowledge

Deep technical understanding of at least one subsystem (Propulsion, Thermal, Flight Software, GN&C, Systems, Flight Dynamics, Communications)

Documentation

Demonstrated proficiency in writing technical documents and/or reports for mission or project critical system

Preferred skills

• Proficiency in software configuration control tools (Git, Gitlab), scripting test automation (Python), Linux/terminal environments, and project management tools (Jira)
• Previous experience performing real-time operations on-console, ideally in a leadership role (e.g., Flight Director, Lead Controller, or Deputy Mission Director).
• Background in lunar, deep-space, or planetary missions, particularly in the VnV and operations phases

We will prioritize candidates currently in Japan with valid working visa.

For overseas candidates, please note that you choose to proceed, this role requires relocation to Japan upon acceptance of the position. Compensation will be provided in JPY and aligned with local market benchmarks in Japan, based on the role’s level, scope, and prevailing industry standards.