Senior Mission Operations Engineer (Test)

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

The Mission Test and Operations team is the heart of mission execution, where we prove readiness on the ground before ever stepping on console. As a Senior Mission Operations Engineer, you will be the bridge between the worlds of system testing and real-time operations.

In this role you will drive a “Test-As-You-Fly” philosophy to ensure that our tests are truly representative of our operations. You will also have the opportunity to follow the mission lifecycle to touchdown by conducting the test campaign, leveraging the results to mitigate operational risk, and ultimately commanding those same procedures from the Mission Control Center as we transit to the Moon.

Job Details

· Type: Full-time Position

· Location: On-site (Tokyo, Japan) at least twice a week with remote option

· Experience Level: See Qualifications below

· Hiring Deadline: By August 2026

· Office: JP Engineering Office

· Group: JP Mission Test & Operations Group, JP Test and Flight Operations Division

· Position: Senior Mission Operations Engineer

By planning and executing flight-like tests on the ground, you will:

· Bridge the gap between engineering design and flight operations, ensuring that the spacecraft is flown as it was tested

· Ensure the safety and quality of flight products before they are used to reach critical milestones in space

· Become an integral part of proving operational readiness and reaching critical mission milestones

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

o Proficiency in software configuration control tools (Git, Gitlab) and scripting test automation (Python)

o Experience with component level testing, System Verification Tests (SVT), Day-in-the-life (DITL) testing, or pre-launch verification

o Background in lunar, deep-space, or planetary missions, particularly in the verification and operations phases