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.
· 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
Test Ideation
· Collaborate with the Assembly Integration & Test, Systems, Ground, and Operations teams to define the system test campaign
· Ensure that mission scenarios defined in the operations concept are translated into representative tests
· Propose and implement novel open- or closed-loop tests to characterized spacecraft behavior under nominal and off-nominal conditions
Simulation and Test Execution
· Work alongside the Ground Systems team to architect and optimize the avionics testbench for flight-like testing
· Contribute to the creation of test specifications, procedures, and reports that serve as a record of spacecraft readiness
· Direct the execution of rigorous software and hardware system test campaigns
· Close the Verification and Validation (V&V) loop by high-level requirements to empirical test results and data
Flight Operations
· Develop flight procedures (procedures, displays, checklists) used in both test and operations
· Align the training, rehearsal, and system verification test campaigns by working closely with Mission Directors
· Operate the spacecraft on-console in a fast paced environment to execute a lunar mission from the Mission Control Center
o Language: Professional Level English (ability write and verbalize complex technical concepts); Japanese language ability is a plus but not required
o Experience: 5+ years of experience with proven track record executing complex test campaigns and/or operations
o Hardware/Software Fluency: Experience working with avionics testbenches, hardware-in-the-loop infrastructure, or mixed hardware-software configurations
o Documentation: Demonstrated proficiency in writing detailed test specifications and reports for mission or project critical systems
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
ispace, a global lunar resource development company with the vision, “Expand our planet. Expand our future.”, specializes in designing and building lunar landers and rovers. ispace aims to extend the sphere of human life into space and create a sustainable world by providing high-frequency, low-cost transportation services to the Moon. Toward that vision, we aim to build an economic zone between the Earth and the Moon (cislunar) through the commercialization of lunar surface development.
In 2022, we launched our first mission to the Moon. It was the culmination of years of hard work and our first step towards extending human life into outer space. Mission 2, launched in 2025, was the second and final mission of the HAKUTO-R lunar exploration program and featured the RESILIENCE lunar lander carrying the TENACIOUS micro rover, navigating deep space and entering lunar orbit before attempting to land on the Moon. With the completion of the R&D Phase, ispace moves forward, taking the lessons learned from Mission 1 and Mission 2, and transitioning into its “Early Commercialization Phase" with Missions 3 & 4 currently in development.
ispace has business entities in Japan, Luxembourg, and the United States with more than 300 employees worldwide.
