{"id":1626837,"url":"https://alion.io/job/spacenexus-mission-engineer","title":"Mission Engineer","company":{"id":2086894,"name":"SpaceNexus","domain":"spacenexus.us","url":"https://alion.io/company/spacenexus","size_band":"1-10","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Schema","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Bothell, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":130000,"max":175000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":175000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-24T17:37:47Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-24","last_verified_at":"2026-10-02T11:05:11Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":8,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":8},"description":"About Portal\nPortal Space Systems is on a mission to expand humanity’s freedom of movement in space. We’re building the spacecraft that makes that mission possible. From our Bothell, WA headquarters, we design vehicles with the maneuverability, resilience, and adaptability needed for the next era of orbital operations. Every system we build is in service of a simple idea: space should be more accessible, responsive, and capable. Joining Portal means stepping into a team that believes in bold engineering, fast iteration, and the power of small groups to change what’s possible. If you want your work to directly shape the future of in-space mobility, join us.\nPosition Summary\nPortal is seeking a Mission Engineer reporting to the Chief Product Officer. This is a multi-disciplinary role with an exciting opportunity to help shape a wide range of functions and systems at Portal spanning mission design, planning, and operations. Broadly, you will make orbital missions a success at Portal.\nEarly focus will center on mission operations; however, the role will present opportunities for upstream work in mission and trajectory design, mission and vehicle performance studies, and external engagement with launch vehicle, regulatory, and customer stakeholders.\nCore Responsibilities\nMission Operations\nPlan and execute operations on console in Portal’s Mission Control Center\nDevelop protocols and train fellow engineers for console operations\nGenerate GUIs, procedures, alerts, and mission rules\nSchedule ground passes, spacecraft tasks and maneuvers, and coordinate with external space traffic coordination groups\nDevelop automations to increase capability of a growing fleet while reducing burden on operators\nMission Design\nDevelop Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for upcoming missions\nDevelop and execute 3DOF (degree of freedom) simulations to identify unique mission capabilities and solutions\nTrack vehicle performance and perform vehicle trade studies to achieve customer needs\nMission Management\nIdentify and manage mission needs and customer requirements\nIdentify, plan, and close launch, regulatory, and customer deliverables\nCoordinate internally with Program Management, Engineering, and Supply Chain to ensure mission success and on-time delivery\nPlan detailed logistics for launch campaigns and support activities at the launch site\n…and other duties as assigned. We’re a startup - expect a wide range of learning & development & leadership opportunities.\nWhat You Bring to Portal\nThis is a formative role in a startup engaged in real mission operations. Successful candidates demonstrate extreme ownership: they embrace ambiguity and broad responsibilities with an ability to distill concepts into disciplined operations with rigorous attention to detail.\nThe ideal candidate will come with a deep functional knowledge in one or more spacecraft disciplines, and experience spanning design/analysis, development & test/launch/mission operations.\nBasic Qualifications\nThe successful candidate will have:\nMinimum 3 years of experience in launch vehicle or spacecraft development or operations\nBachelor’s degree in engineering\nExperience in development engineering or similar activities that require ownership across several portions of the product lifecycle\nExperience in test, launch, or mission operations, or other similar activities requiring real-time operations support\nBonus Points\nExperience obtaining regulatory approvals from FCC, ITU, NOAA, Range, etc.\nDeep familiarity with SSCMAN 91-710, SMC-S-016, and/or SMC-S-025\nDirect familiarity with one or more space traffic coordination systems\nExperience with 3DOF simulation tools such as STK, Copernicus, FreeFlyer\nDemonstrated past ownership and successful delivery of complex systems\nWillingness to obtain security clearance\nWork Expectations\nPrimarily onsite support with travel up to 25% time\nWillingness to support in real-time mission operations with shifting on-call support\nPay Range: $130,000 - $175,000\nCompensation and Benefits:\nYour actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.\nAt Portal, your base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company equity at an exciting time of company growth as well as potential bonuses. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k)-retirement plan, paid parental leave, you may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 12 or more paid holidays per year as well as sick time.\nITAR Statement\nThis position may involve access to technical data and defense-related materials controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Eligibility to access ITAR-controlled items requires that candidates be U.S. persons , which includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other protected individuals as defined by U.S. law. Employment is contingent upon verification of ITAR eligibility and, where applicable, obtaining any required export authorization or license.\nEqual Opportunity Statement\nAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5447,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity","Parental leave","Retirement plans"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Space & Aerospace"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-01T21:02:07Z"}],"liveness":{"score":84,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.842,"p_room":1,"age_days":7,"expected_fill_days":26,"reasons":["conf:8","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-02T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":175000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacenexus-mission-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/spacenexus-mission-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-03T02:20:37Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":2582,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":2418,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-04T00:00:00Z"}}}