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University of Colorado Boulder · 13 hours ago

Flight Controller IV (Satellite Systems Engineer)

Boulder, CO

Full-time

Hybrid

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$131K/yr - $170K/yr

9+ years exp

The University of Colorado Boulder is seeking an experienced Flight Controller IV to provide senior-level leadership in mission operations for NASA and commercial spacecraft. This role involves designing, developing, and executing mission operations while mentoring other operators and contributing to advanced operational tools and best practices.

Universities

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Lead the design, implementation, and verification of complex subsystems within the ground system

Lead one or more mission operations subsystems such as, planning & scheduling, command management, or telemetry processing and analysis

Work with science and engineering teams to define operational concepts that meet mission requirements while ensuring adherence to flight rules

Lead detailed subsystem performance analysis and recommend strategic improvements

Direct investigation and recovery of complex mission anomalies affecting spacecraft, instruments, or ground systems

Lead strategic mission planning and guide tactical planning performed by other team members

Validate system performance from pre‑launch through end‑of‑mission

Develop and validate commissioning activities for new missions and instruments

Architect new mission capabilities, tools, processes, and automation frameworks

Design test activities for mission testbeds and support code walkthroughs and verification events

Contribute to requirements development and verification planning

Create and maintain mission‑level and subsystem‑level documentation

Approve and release updates to tactical and strategic operations documentation

Provide technical leadership for development teams or project groups

Mentor Flight Controllers, students, and junior personnel

Represent LASP at key meetings, project reviews, and customer interactions

Contribute to organizational initiatives that improve efficiency, capability, and team culture

Participate in recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new team members

Support on‑call operations during nights, holidays, and weekends as needed

Perform other duties as assigned by the Flight Director

Qualification

Spacecraft operationsLinux proficiencyCoding principlesAtlassian toolsMission planning softwareSystems engineering practicesOrbital mechanicsProject managementCommunicationTeam leadership

Required

BA/BS in engineering, physical sciences, computer science, or related technical field

Nine or more years of spacecraft operations or equivalent experience

Proficiency in Linux environments

Proficiency with Atlassian tools (JIRA, Confluence, Bitbucket, etc.)

Strong knowledge of intermediate coding principles and experience developing software for specialized analysis or operational tooling

Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects, direct small teams, and independently execute broadly defined objectives

Ability to perform in a mission specialist role (flight dynamics, test lead, subsystem specialist, etc.)

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Ability to support off‑hours and on‑call operations as required

Due to requirements to access export-controlled data and information, only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or other protected individuals may apply