Launch Operations Support Engineer

LV8D Solutions

• $110K — $130K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 9+ years, Master's with 7+ years, or PhD/JD with 4+ years of experience.
  • Experience in launch base processing and operations.
  • Demonstrated experience with satellite launch activities.
  • Strong leadership, team-building, and problem-solving skills in a government/contractor context.
  • Knowledge of government organizations and satellite systems.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the on-site customer representative at Vandenberg Space Force Base for launch activities.
  • Coordinate with launch providers and government stakeholders during payload and launch processing, as well as execution.
  • Maintain awareness of schedules, milestones, risks, and communicate impacts to stakeholders.
  • Provide timely updates and summaries to the program office and customer leadership regarding launch status.
  • Support preparations for launch events and milestone reviews.
  • Track action items and issues related to launch activities, escalating concerns when necessary.
  • Facilitate communication across mission partners to ensure successful execution in a high-frequency launch environment.

Benefits

  • Performance-based bonus opportunities tied to contract performance.
  • Retention incentive benefit bounty for unused annual health insurance contributions.
  • Up to $5,000 referral bonus for successful employee referrals.
  • Bonus opportunities based on customer recognition through Letters of Appreciation.
  • Milestone rewards for career anniversaries at 1, 5, 10, and 20 years.
  • Annual profit-sharing contribution of 4% of W-2 earnings into your 401(k), with immediate vesting.
  • Company matches 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 6%, with immediate vesting.
  • Financial support for training and certifications, plus enhanced support for degree pursuits.
  • Flexible work hours and competitive paid time off (PTO) to promote work-life balance.
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage, including 100% company-paid disability and life insurance.
Full Job Description
Mission Context

LV8D Solutions supports national security space and intelligence customers delivering next-generation sensing and exploitation capabilities. The Launch Operations Support Engineer will provide onsite systems engineering and technical advisory (SETA) services in support of a government program.

Position Overview

As the Launch Operations Support Engineer, you will deliver on-site launch support and customer representation at Vandenberg Space Force Base, serving as a key interface between the program office, and launch provider.. You will also support mission execution by coordinating launch campaign activities, maintaining situational awareness of payload and launch processing, and ensuring stakeholders remain informed throughout pre-launch operations. You will also support high-tempo launch activities by facilitating communication, tracking milestones, and helping resolve issues that could affect mission success.

Note: An active Top Secret/SCI clearance with Poly is required to be considered for this role

Interested candidates need to thrive in an innovative, fast-paced environment; are highly motivated and not afraid to take on uncharted territory; possess strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills; and be able to prioritize their time to be effective in a dynamic environment.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities
  • Serve as the on-site customer representative at Vandenberg Space Force Base for launch campaign activities.
  • Coordinate with launch providers, mission partners, and government stakeholders to support payload and launch processing through launch execution.
  • Maintain awareness of launch campaign schedules, milestones, risks, and dependencies, and communicate impacts to relevant stakeholders.
  • Provide timely launch status updates, summaries, and notifications to the program office and customer leadership.
  • Support preparation for launch events, readiness activities, and milestone reviews.
  • Track action items, issues, and decisions related to launch support activities and elevate concerns as needed.
  • Facilitate communication across mission partners to help ensure alignment and successful execution in a high-frequency launch environment.
  • Assist with development of briefing materials, reports, and leadership-facing communications related to launch operations.

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelors and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience ; PhD or JD and four (4) years or more experience.
  • Experience with launch base processing and operations.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting satellite launch activities.
  • Strong interpersonal, leadership, team-building, and problem-solving skills with demonstrated effectiveness in a government/contractor environment.
  • Working knowledge of government organizations, major acquisition processes, and satellite systems.

Security Requirements:
  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance
  • Active Counterintelligence (CI) or Full Scope (FS) Polygraph

Work Environment:
  • On-site work in a government or contractor facility
  • Occasional travel (up to 25%)


Benefits

Performance & Recognition

Period of Performance (PoP) Bonus Opportunities
Performance-based bonus opportunities tied to contract or organizational performance.

Retention Incentive Benefit Bounty
Receive a payout for unused annual company contributions designated for health insurance premiums and professional training.

Referral Bonus
Earn up to $5,000 for each successful employee referral.

Customer Recognition Letter of Appreciation (LoA) Bonus Opportunities
Bonus opportunities based on customer recognition received through Letters of Appreciation.

Milestone Rewards
Celebrate your career achievements with anniversary awards on your 1st, 5th, 10th, and 20th years of service.

Financial & Retirement Benefits

Profit Sharing
Receive an annual contribution equal to 4% of your W-2 gross earnings into your 401(k), with immediate vesting.

401(k) Company Match
The company matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 6% of your monthly contribution, with immediate vesting.

Career Development

The company invests in your professional growth through:
  • Annual financial support for professional training and industry certifications.
  • Enhanced financial support for employees actively pursuing a degree at an accredited institution.

Work-Life Balance

Support for a healthy work-life balance includes:
  • Flexible work hours
  • Competitive paid time off (PTO)
  • Company holidays

Health & Wellness Benefits

The company offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family.

Medical Coverage

Three comprehensive Medical/Rx insurance plan options to meet the unique and individualized benefit needs of our employees

Dental & Vision
  • Comprehensive dental insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
  • Comprehensive vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents.

Income Protection
  • 100% Company-Paid Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • 100% Company-Paid Long-Term Disability Insurance

Life Insurance
  • 100% Company-Paid Basic Term Life Insurance with Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage.
  • Optional employee-paid Supplemental Voluntary Life Insurance.

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