Career Opportunities at Momentus: Propelling Your Future in Space

Career Progression: Charting Your Path in Aerospace

Momentus offers structured career advancement paths designed to help employees grow from entry-level roles to leadership positions within 5-10 years. Here’s how progression typically unfolds across key disciplines:

Engineering Career Pathway

- Entry-Level (0-2 years): Spacecraft Systems Engineer or Propulsion Test Engineer
- Focus: Hands-on testing, component design, and mission simulations
- Promotion criteria: Mastery of orbital mechanics fundamentals, successful subsystem testing, and contribution to at least one launch campaign
- Timeline: 18-24 months to Associate Engineer

- Mid-Level (3-5 years): Senior Spacecraft Engineer or Lead Propulsion Engineer
- Focus: Full system ownership (e.g., Vigoride spacecraft bus), cross-functional leadership, and vendor management
- Promotion criteria: Leading a successful in-space demonstration (e.g., 2023 Vigoride-5 mission), mentoring junior engineers, and authoring technical white papers
- Timeline: 3-4 years to Principal Engineer or Engineering Manager

- Senior Leadership (6+ years): Director of Spacecraft Engineering or Chief Propulsion Architect
- Example trajectory: A Propulsion Engineer who joined in 2019 progressed to Senior Engineer in 2022 after leading the development of Momentus’s water-plasma propulsion system, then became Director of Propulsion in 2024 following the successful orbital transfer of customer satellites.

Mission Operations Career Pathway

- Entry-Level (0-2 years): Mission Operations Specialist
- Focus: Real-time spacecraft monitoring, anomaly resolution, and ground station operations
- Promotion criteria: Certification in mission control procedures and leadership during critical operations (e.g., orbital insertion burns)
- Timeline: 2 years to Mission Operations Engineer

- Mid-Level (3-5 years): Flight Director or Mission Operations Lead
- Focus: End-to-end mission planning, customer coordination, and team leadership during active missions
- Promotion criteria: Successful execution of 3+ commercial missions (e.g., 2023 lunar flyby mission) and development of automated operations tools
- Timeline: 3-5 years to Senior Flight Director or Manager of Mission Operations

- Senior Leadership (6+ years): Director of Mission Assurance or VP of Mission Operations
- Example: A Mission Operations Specialist who joined in 2020 became a Flight Director in 2023 after leading the team through Momentus’s first multi-satellite deployment mission, then advanced to Director of Mission Operations in 2025 following the expansion of the company’s satellite constellation management services.

Business and Program Management

- Entry-Level (0-2 years): Program Coordinator or Business Development Associate
- Focus: Contract management, customer proposals, and market analysis for space infrastructure services
- Promotion criteria: Securing first customer contract (e.g., hosted payload agreement) and demonstrating financial acumen in program budgeting
- Timeline: 2 years to Program Manager or Business Development Manager

- Mid-Level (3-5 years): Senior Program Manager or Director of Business Development
- Focus: P&L ownership for a portfolio of missions, strategic partnerships (e.g., NASA Tipping Point collaborations), and international market expansion
- Promotion criteria: Closing a $50M+ multi-mission contract and leading a cross-functional team to deliver on-time and under budget
- Timeline: 3-4 years to VP of Programs or VP of Business Development

Learning & Development: Fueling Your Growth

Momentus invests heavily in employee development through structured programs, hands-on training, and exposure to cutting-edge aerospace technologies.

Technical Training and Certifications

- Momentus Propulsion Academy: A 6-month intensive program covering water-plasma propulsion, orbital mechanics, and in-space servicing technologies. Engineers who complete this program are eligible for promotion to Senior Engineer roles.
- Spacecraft Design Certification: A 12-month program in partnership with Stanford University, focusing on modular spacecraft design, satellite constellations, and space systems integration. Graduates often transition into Spacecraft Architect roles.
- Mission Operations Certification: A 3-month simulation-based training program that includes real-time anomaly resolution drills and orbital maneuver planning. Required for advancement to Flight Director positions.

Professional Development and Conferences

- Annual Professional Development Budget: $5,000 per employee for conferences, workshops, and courses. Popular events include:
- Small Satellite Conference (Utah, USA)
- International Astronautical Congress (rotating global locations)
- Space Tech Expo (Long Beach, USA)
- Technical Paper Support: Momentus encourages employees to publish research and provides editorial and financial support. In 2023, 15 employees co-authored papers on topics like advances in water-based propulsion and orbital debris mitigation strategies.

Cross-Functional and Leadership Development

- Rotation Programs: Engineers can rotate through different teams (e.g., propulsion, avionics, mission operations) every 6-12 months to gain broad exposure. For example, a Propulsion Engineer might spend 6 months in Mission Operations to better understand how their systems perform in real missions.
- Leadership Accelerator Program: A 9-month program for high-potential employees, including mentorship from executives, case studies in space industry leadership, and a capstone project presenting to the CEO. Graduates are often promoted to Manager or Director roles within 12 months.

Mentorship and Coaching

- Peer Mentorship Circles: Small groups of 4-5 employees meet bi-weekly to discuss technical challenges, career goals, and best practices. These circles are organized by discipline (e.g., propulsion, mission operations) and include employees at all levels.
- Executive Coaching: High-potential employees and new managers receive one-on-one coaching from industry veterans, including former NASA and SpaceX leaders who are part of Momentus’s advisory board.

Employee Success Stories: From Launch to Leadership

Momentus’s culture of innovation and growth has enabled employees to achieve remarkable career milestones. Here are a few inspiring examples:

From Test Engineer to Chief Propulsion Architect

- Employee: Dr. Elena Vasquez
- Journey: Joined Momentus in 2018 as a Propulsion Test Engineer after completing her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering.
- Achievements:
- Led the development and testing of Momentus’s water-plasma propulsion system, which achieved a record-specific impulse for commercial spacecraft in 2021.
- Published 3 peer-reviewed papers on green propulsion technologies and presented at the International Electric Propulsion Conference.
- Promoted to Senior Propulsion Engineer in 2020, then Principal Engineer in 2022 after successfully leading the propulsion system for the Vigoride-3 mission.
- Appointed Chief Propulsion Architect in 2024, overseeing all propulsion development and innovation.
- Recognition: Received the Momentus Innovation Award in 2023 for her work on scalable propulsion systems for satellite constellations.

Mission Operations Specialist to Flight Director

- Employee: Raj Patel
- Journey: Started as a Mission Operations Specialist in 2019 after graduating with a degree in Aerospace Engineering.
- Achievements:
- Certified as a Mission Operations Engineer in 2021 after leading real-time operations for Momentus’s first in-space demonstration.
- Developed an automated tool for orbital maneuver planning, reducing mission planning time by 30%.
- Promoted to Flight Director in 2023 after successfully managing the deployment of 5 customer satellites in a single mission.
- Selected for a 6-month international assignment in 2024 to support the setup of Momentus’s ground station in Australia.
- Recognition: Awarded Employee of the Year in 2023 for his leadership during a critical mission anomaly resolution.

Business Development Associate to Director of Programs

- Employee: Sarah Chen
- Journey: Joined Momentus in 2020 as a Business Development Associate with a background in finance and aerospace.
- Achievements:
- Secured Momentus’s first $10M contract with a major satellite operator in 2021, leading to her promotion to Business Development Manager.
- Led the negotiation of a strategic partnership with a lunar exploration company in 2023, expanding Momentus’s services to cis-lunar missions.
- Promoted to Director of Programs in 2024, overseeing a portfolio of 10+ commercial and government missions.
- Recognition: Featured in SpaceNews as one of the Top 20 Under 40 in the space industry in 2023.

Future Growth Areas: The Next Frontier

Momentus is at the forefront of several emerging technologies and market opportunities, creating exciting career paths for employees who want to shape the future of space.

Emerging Technologies and Initiatives

- In-Space Manufacturing: Momentus is developing capabilities for in-space 3D printing and assembly, with plans to launch its first demonstration mission in 2026. Employees can join the In-Space Manufacturing Team to work on additive manufacturing in microgravity and robotic assembly technologies.
- Lunar and Cis-Lunar Services: Momentus is expanding its mission operations to support lunar flyby and lunar orbit insertion missions. This includes developing new propulsion systems and navigation technologies for deep space. Careers in this area include Lunar Mission Architect and Cis-Lunar Navigation Engineer.
- Satellite Servicing and Debris Removal: Momentus is investing in technologies for on-orbit satellite refueling, repair, and debris mitigation. Employees can contribute to projects like the Orbital Servicing Vehicle, with roles such as Robotics Engineer and Debris Mitigation Specialist.

Expansion Plans and Market Opportunities

- Global Ground Station Network: Momentus is expanding its ground station infrastructure to support 24/7 mission operations. This includes new facilities in Australia, Chile, and the UAE, creating opportunities for Ground Station Engineers and Network Operations Managers.
- Satellite Constellation Management: As Momentus grows its portfolio of managed satellite constellations, there is increasing demand for Constellation Operations Engineers and Data Analytics Specialists to optimize orbital mechanics and mission efficiency.

Leadership Development Tracks

- Executive Leadership Program: A 12-month program designed to prepare high-potential employees for executive roles. Participants work on strategic initiatives, receive coaching from the CEO and board members, and present their findings to the leadership team.
- Technical Fellowship Program: For employees who want to deepen their expertise in a specific area (e.g., propulsion, orbital mechanics), this program provides funding for advanced research, collaboration with academic institutions, and publication support.

Innovation and Research Opportunities

- Momentus Labs: An internal R&D division focused on breakthrough technologies such as advanced propulsion, AI-driven mission planning, and next-generation space systems. Employees can propose and lead research projects with the potential to spin off into new business units.
- University Partnerships: Momentus collaborates with top aerospace engineering programs (e.g., MIT, Caltech, Stanford) on research projects. Employees can participate as mentors, advisors, or principal investigators, gaining exposure to cutting-edge academic research.

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Ready to Launch Your Career at Momentus?

If you're passionate about space exploration, satellite technology, and aerospace innovation, Momentus offers a dynamic environment where you can grow your career while shaping the future of the space industry. Explore open positions and join a team that’s redefining what’s possible in space.

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