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Mission Operations Engineer (Entry-Level) - Millennium Space Systems

The Boeing Company

Chantilly, VAJob$66–145K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
$66–145K/yr
Location
Chantilly, VA
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

TS/SCI clearance

Job overview

The Mission Operations Engineer serves as the lead technical authority for Millennium’s on-orbit spacecraft, supporting missions from proposal and design through integration, launch, operations, and decommissioning. The role covers mission and ground-segment design, operational procedures, testing, automation, and anomaly response. The team is hiring at Level 1–2; Level 2 candidates may have two or more years of related experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Real-Time Satellite OperationsSatellite Command and ControlSatellite SubsystemsGround SystemsSpace MissionsCONOPS DesignSatellite Systems EngineeringGuidance Navigation and ControlElectrical Power SystemsThermal ControlTelemetry Tracking and CommandPropulsion SystemsSpacecraft Command and Control SoftwareTechnical Team LeadershipAnomaly ResolutionMATLABPythonC/C++Java

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science in Listed Fields or EquivalentTwo Years Related Experience or EquivalentMaster's in STEMU.S. CitizenshipAbility to Obtain Security Clearance

Benefits

Medical Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off

Full job description

Job Description

At Boeing, we innovate and collaborate to make the world a better place. We’re committed to fostering an environment for every teammate that’s welcoming, respectful and inclusive, with great opportunity for professional growth. Find your future with us.

Millennium Space Systems, a part of Boeing Defense, Space and Security (BDS), is a fast, agile small satellite company focused on national security space. Our missions have direct impact to global security, like missile warning and Earth observation.

Our team is curious, bold and innovative. We take risks, innovate and explore new techniques and technologies. We influence change because we challenge the status quo. And when we watch our satellites launch, we know each one of us made it happen.

Job Summary :

As a Mission Operations Engineer, you will be the lead technical authority for Millennium’s on-orbit spacecraft.  Your work will encompass the entire spacecraft mission life cycle, from the proposal phase to spacecraft and mission design, through space vehicle integration and test, and culminating with launch and on-orbit operations.  You will be responsible for all facets of the mission design, including definition of operational concepts, development of on-orbit procedures, and innovation of advanced methods of spacecraft operation unique to each space mission.  Mission Operations requires composure in high-pressure situations, in-depth knowledge of both the space vehicles and ground segment, and an ability to respond to anomalous scenarios in real-time.  You will be directly responsible for Millennium’s critical on-orbit assets.

This position’s internal job code is Systems Engineer. Our team is currently hiring for a Level 1-2.

Position Responsibilities:

  • Support a team of spacecraft and subsystem engineers during launch and early orbit activities to commission the space vehicle(s) for service

  • Perform duties of lead technical authority during mission operations for both the space and ground segments

  • Support every aspect of the mission lifecycle, from proposal/mission modeling, design, integration and test, space vehicle shipment, launch and on-orbit operations, to decommissioning

  • Assist in the ground and mission operations requirements, and flow mission requirements back to the space vehicle team including:

  • Mission concept of operation and design reference missions

  • Future vehicle designs by cataloguing lessons learned from on-orbit exercises

  • Support the ground segment design, including command and control, mission planning, mission data processing, and the associated infrastructure to support all activities

  • Implement and test space vehicle fault and autonomy, including fault detection and response, autonomous space vehicle behavior, and on-board command and control

  • Implement methods of operational automation, to reduce day-to-day operator responsibilities

  • Assist in the creation and execution of space vehicle simulator tests to validate mission/fault/autonomy design

  • Assist in the creation and execution of in-factory flight vehicle tests to validate mission design compatibility with flight hardware

  • Conduct critical ground segment testing, including radio-frequency compatibility testing, remote ground facility interface testing, and acceptance testing of critical ground assets/locations

  • Support anomaly response team when off-nominal vehicle conditions arise

  • Contribute to customer briefings/debriefings for orbital events

  • Assist in the mission “sequence of events” for bus commissioning, payload checkout/calibration, and mission operations

  • Contribute to Mission Rehearsal events to train the mission team and to validate the mission design

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills/Experience):

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology (including Manufacturing Technology), Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or non-US equivalent qualifications directly related to the work statement

  • Experience with real-time satellite command and control operations

  • Demonstrated knowledge of satellite subsystems, ground systems, space missions, and CONOPS design

  • Willingness to support 24/7 operations as required and occasional off-nominal working hours during critical 24/7 mission operations activities

  • This position requires the ability to obtain a US Security Clearance for which the US Government requires US Citizenship. A final U.S. TS/SCI clearance Post Start is required

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

  • Level 2: Two (2) or more years' related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience

  • M .S. in STEM related field

  • Extended knowledge of satellite systems engineering, including all satellite subsystems: Guidance, Navigation, and Control; Electrical Power; Thermal Control; Telemetry, Tracking, and Command; Propulsion; etc.

  • Experience with Spacecraft Command & Control software systems

  • Experience in leading multidisciplinary technical teams, especially to resolve anomalous scenarios

  • Familiarity with software and scripting tools such as MATLAB, Python, C/C++, Java, etc.

Conflict of Interest:

Successful candidates for this job must satisfy the Company’s Conflict of Interest (COI) assessment process.

Drug Free Workplace:

Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, is a Drug Free Workplace (DFW) where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies.

Total Rewards:

At Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company, we strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent. Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities.

Millennium Space Systems also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work.

The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

Summary pay range :

Level 1: $66,000 - 117,000

Level 2: $82,000 - 145,000

Millennium is DDTC-registered, ITAR-compliant Company. This position is located at a facility that requires special access. Applicants MUST be U.S. citizens and eligible for a security clearance. Additionally, applicants must be willing to apply for and maintain a security clearance. We encourage all interested candidates to apply for any open position for which they feel they are qualified.

Category = Engineering

Applications for this position will be accepted until Nov. 13, 2026

Export Control Requirements:

This position must meet U.S. export control compliance requirements. To meet U.S. export control compliance requirements, a “U.S. Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62 is required.

“U.S. Person” includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.

Export Control Details:

US based job, US Person required

Education

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Required

Relocation

Relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit for this position.

Security Clearance

This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Security Clearance for which the U.S. Government requires U.S. Citizenship. An interim and/or final U.S. Secret Clearance Post-Start is required.

Visa Sponsorship

Employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.

Shift

This position is for 1st shift

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Boeing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

How this job compares

Set against the 11,696 open Systems Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 7, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$66–145K/yr
  • Virginia median$120–182K/yr854 salary ranges
  • US median$116–190K/yr8,703 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $106K, is 30% below the Virginia median midpoint ($152K) — in the lowest quarter of Systems Engineer salary ranges in Virginia.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 1,087 open Systems Engineer jobs in Virginia and 11,696 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Virginia
Experience
Systems Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 3 to 8 years (9,778 postings).
Education
4,476 of the 11,696 open Systems Engineer jobs (38%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 7, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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