Mission Manager

Description

Space Tango is an innovative space technology small business based in Lexington, KY. Space Tango's mission is to manufacture health and technology products in space that create value and transformational solutions.  Space Tango provides space-based automated facilities and payloads to support research and development and small-scale manufacturing needs of our partners and customers in the Low Earth Orbit environment and beyond.  As a leader in automated systems, Space Tango pursues pathways to on-orbit production.  Our vision is to inspire, innovate, and create a better future for humanity by utilizing the environment of space. 

The Mission Manager is responsible for planning and coordinating the activities required to successfully integrate Space Tango payloads with NASA and other launch providers. This role leads mission integration from early planning through launch, on-orbit operations, and payload return, ensuring mission requirements, documentation, readiness activities, and external interfaces remain on track. 

Working closely with Engineering, Science, Mission Operations, and Lead Engineers, the Mission Manager coordinates the many activities required to prepare payloads for flight while serving as Space Tango's primary interface with NASA integration teams and other flight organizations. 

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys coordinating complex technical programs, solving logistical challenges, and working with multidisciplinary teams to prepare hardware for spaceflight. 

Previous NASA or ISS experience is preferred but not required. We're looking for someone with strong technical project coordination, communication, and organizational skills who is excited to learn NASA integration processes and become an expert in spaceflight mission execution. 

Travel is required to support launches, customer activities, partner integrations, and mission operations.  

Key Responsibilities 

• Coordinate NASA integration activities from mission planning through payload return  
• Manage mission timelines, readiness activities, and integration milestones  
• Prepare and coordinate NASA documentation, safety packages, and mission deliverables  
• Serve as Space Tango's primary interface with NASA integration teams and other flight organizations  
• Coordinate launch site activities, payload turnover, and return logistics  
• Support on-orbit mission execution and post-flight activities  
• Work closely with Engineering, Science, Mission Operations, and Lead Engineers to ensure mission readiness  
• Track mission risks, action items, and integration requirements  
• Help improve Space Tango's mission integration processes and tools 

Requirements

 Qualifications, Skills, and Experience 

Required: 

• Bachelor's degree in a related technical discipline  
• Experience coordinating complex technical projects or multidisciplinary teams  
• Excellent organizational and communication skills  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines  
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through  
• Willingness to travel to support launches, customer activities, and mission operations 

Preferred: 

• Experience in aerospace, engineering, manufacturing, laboratory operations, or another technical environment  
• Experience working with technical documentation, regulated processes, or compliance requirements  
• Familiarity with project management principles  
• NASA, ISS, launch integration, or mission operations experience  
• Familiarity with NASA or aerospace design standards and configuration management practices. 

Interpersonal Skills 

• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple activities while maintaining focus on overall mission objectives  
• Strong attention to detail with creative problem-solving skills  
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing priorities and requirements  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences  
• Ability to coordinate effectively across multidisciplinary teams and external organizations  
• Self-motivated with a strong commitment to mission and company success  
• Willingness to learn new systems, processes, and technologies 
• Calm and organized under time-sensitive deadlines and changing priorities 

Space Tango is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Space Tango is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. 

This position may require access to technology and information subject to U.S. export control laws, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Employment is contingent upon the ability to obtain any necessary government authorizations to access and handle controlled technology and data. Candidates must be able to comply with all applicable export control regulations.