Director of Mission Management

About the role

Reflect Orbital is seeking a leader to oversee the entire lifecycle of our spacecraft missions, from initial planning through to orbital deployment. You will manage our launch strategy and regulatory compliance while building the internal systems necessary to scale our constellation. This role requires a balance of high-level strategic planning and direct, hands-on execution of critical mission milestones.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Direct mission management, including launch-provider integration, regulatory filings, and mission readiness.
• Create and maintain the integrated roadmap for launch and regulatory activities aligned with spacecraft production.
• Negotiate and manage senior-level relationships with launch providers, regulatory bodies, and legal counsel.
• Lead FCC licensing efforts, including spectrum coordination, milestone reporting, and technical exhibits.
• Design and implement an operating system for mission management, such as risk reviews, decision logs, and readiness protocols.
• Coordinate across internal departments including GNC, flight software, manufacturing, and business operations.
• Evaluate launch opportunities and manage manifest decisions alongside finance and engineering.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to licensing, spectrum access, and integration early in the development cycle.
• Recruit and mentor a mission management team capable of supporting an increasing launch cadence.

Requirements

• Minimum 8 years of professional experience in launch integration, spacecraft mission management, or regulatory affairs.
• Proven track record of managing multiple spacecraft missions through the full cycle of integration, regulatory approval, and launch.
• Expertise in launch-provider workflows, safety reviews, and spacecraft data packages.
• Practical knowledge of FCC licensing processes and spectrum coordination.
• Experience building internal processes or teams within a rapidly scaling organization.
• Ability to handle complex negotiations and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Capacity to operate with high urgency while maintaining attention to detail in high-stakes environments.

Skills & tools

• Launch-provider integration and mission scheduling
• FCC licensing and spectrum management
• Risk management and mission readiness assessment
• Technical program management for aerospace
• Regulatory compliance and external stakeholder management

Practical notes

• Reflect Orbital covers 100% of base-policy premiums for medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Benefits include 401K, HSA, FSA, and daily catered lunches.
• Unlimited paid time off policy with a two-week minimum usage encouraged.
• We encourage applicants who may not meet every requirement but possess exceptional, unconventional backgrounds.

About the company

Reflect Orbital, Inc is an American privately held space technology company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. The company was founded in 2021. It designs and builds satellites equipped with large-scale deployable mirrors. These mirrors are intended to point sunlight onto Earth's surface. The stated goal is to provide responsive lighting after dark and to increase the effective hours of solar energy production. Investors in the company include venture capital firms such as Sequoia Capital, Lux Capital, and Starship Ventures. In July 2026, the Federal Communications Commission granted the company a license to launch its first demonstration satellite. The satellite is named Eärendil-1. It is scheduled to fly aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission later that year. The company has said it ultimately aims to operate as many as 50,000 reflector satellites in orbit by 2035. The business operates in the emerging orbital reflectors sector. This field focuses on redirecting solar energy for terrestrial use. The technology requires precise attitude control and lightweight deployable structures. The Hawthorne location places the team near a major aerospace workforce and supply chain. The company is developing the hardware and software needed to manage a large constellation. Regulatory approvals are a key milestone for the deployment plan. The demonstration mission will test the core reflection capability in the space environment. Success will inform the design of future operational satellites.