Mission Operations Engineer

About Nominal

Engineers today are building some of the most ambitious machines humanity has ever seen. They should have AI that’s purpose-built for them.

Nominal is building the Hardware Intelligence Platform that gives engineers increased visibility into complex physical systems, helps them make better decisions, and ultimately gets their products into the real world faster. It brings together the systems, data, intelligence, and applications hardware engineering requires to meet the AI moment. Hardware engineering teams use Nominal to simulate, test, manufacture, and operate the physical systems that keep the world moving, from spacecraft and autonomous vehicles to next-generation energy systems and robotics.

Our customers span aerospace, defense, manufacturing, transportation, energy, and robotics. They include Anduril, Shield AI, Wisk Aero, Pratt Miller Motorsports, Antares, and Shinkei Systems, amongst others, alongside programs within the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Our team draws from SpaceX, Palantir, Anduril, Applied Intuition, Tesla, and other leading companies, united by a common mission: giving hardware engineers the tools to build the future with speed, safety, and confidence.

We're a fast-moving team that owns problems end-to-end, works across disciplines, and thrives at the intersection of hardware and software.

Some of the world’s leading technology investors, including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Founders Fund, General Catalyst, Lux Capital, and Insight Partners, are backing Nominal’s ambition to change how machines are built and operated. We’re looking for engineers who want to take on hard problems and help make a new generation of world-changing hardware possible.

As a

Mission Operations Engineer

, you'll bridge Nominal's software with real-world applications, becoming an indispensable advisor to our customers. You'll ensure our solutions not only meet but exceed operational requirements, tailoring deployments to unique environments, providing comprehensive training, and directly addressing any challenges that arise. Your work will transform customer operations, enhance user experiences, and drive Nominal's technology to new frontiers.

🚀 About the role

Own the outcome

You will own entire project lifecycles, proactively engage and align internal and external stakeholders, demonstrate exceptional levels of communication, and ensure on-time and on-target delivery of Nominal’s tech to customers.

Deploy & integrate

Take Nominal's tech to operation on the ground, tailoring solutions to fit our customers' high-stakes environments perfectly.

Build relationships & business

You're not just deploying technology; you're growing Nominal's presence and impact and establishing deep, productive partnerships. You’re acting as an account manager and product expert, and important relational and technical capital is on your shoulders.

Train & support

You're on the front lines, making sure our users understand our products and can use them to their full potential.

Enhance & evolve

Your feedback loops are gold, turning user experiences into actionable insights for continuous product improvement.

Solve & streamline

See an issue? You're on it, with the autonomy to fix problems fast and keep our technology ahead of the curve.

Be the bridge

You're the vital link between Nominal and our customers, translating needs and critical dependencies into solutions and ensuring seamless collaboration across all fronts.

🔍 We're looking for someone with

Proven engineering excellence

3+ years of professional experience in hardware engineering and/or data technologies. You have firsthand experience developing or operating rockets, aircraft, spacecraft, ground or maritime vehicles, medical devices or energy infrastructure. You have spent time building data pipelines and automations to turn data into decisions.

Technical sharpshooter

Your intellectual curiosity drives you to solve complex problems. You think in systems and see the big picture, yet you're all about nailing the details. You have a strong intuition for the math and physics our customers encounter daily.

Communicator & influencer

You articulate complex ideas with ease and confidence, steering conversations and projects with clarity, honesty, and diplomacy. You are comfortable engaging with both front line engineers and senior executives, and have strong written and verbal communication skills.

Dynamic leader & team player

With a mix of humility, eagerness to learn, and empathy, you're a natural at leading and lifting those around you. You don't just spot problems; you solve them. You are comfortable coordinating and leading cross-functional teams, often with teammates who don’t directly report to you.

Project maestro

You have a solid track record of turning technical concepts into reality and managing the full cycle from planning to deployment, managing requirements and dependencies across internal and external teams.

Ready to roll

Up to 50% travel? No problem. You're ready to be where the action is, anywhere, anytime.

⚡ Skills that supercharge us

Customer-facing skills

Experienced technical project manager, consultant and/or operator.

Software delivery

Previous experience deploying technical software and data products into complex business processes. Comfortable designing workflows and writing data integration code.

Hardware engineering

You have worked in the trenches of hardware engineering. You have firsthand experience working with advanced machinery, and you understand sensors, telemetry, and common software tools used by hardware engineers.

Security clearance

Currently hold, or are eligible to obtain, a U.S. government security clearance.

• ✨ Benefits/Perks
• 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Unlimited PTO and sick leave
• Free lunch, snacks, and coffee
• Professional Development Stipend
• 🛠️ In-office hardware lab with a $250 project stipend
• Annual company retreat
• 👶 12 weeks parental leave
• 🌱 Fertility and family planning ($15,000 lifetime)
• 💪 Wellness stipend ($100/month)
• 🛠️ $500/year hardware sensor stipend
• 💼 401(k)
• 📈 Employee-friendly equity terms
• 🏢 In-office 5 days per week

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $145,000 – $205,000 per year.

Department: Mission Operations