Senior Meteorology Operations Manager

The hiring organization is a specialized aerospace and defense company focusing on supporting rocket launch operations through advanced meteorological services. This company operates within high-consequence environments such as range operations and defense sectors, requiring precision, technical expertise, and rigorous safety standards. Their mission includes providing accurate weather insights critical to the success and safety of rocket launches, involving cutting-edge meteorological instruments and extensive field operations. The company is known for its commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and maintaining compliance with all regulatory and safety requirements. They seek highly experienced professionals to support their ambitious launch schedules and ensure mission success through meticulous weather monitoring and analysis.

The role of Senior Meteorology Operations Manager is pivotal within the company’s launch campaign teams. This position is responsible for leading complex meteorological field operations, including planning, installation, commissioning, and ongoing management of meteorological towers, Doppler wind LiDAR systems, and radiosonde ground systems. The Senior Meteorology Operations Manager delivers essential mission-critical weather products and briefings that enable informed, safe launch decisions. Acting as the technical authority, this role governs all meteorological systems and processes throughout pre-launch, launch, and post-flight phases, ensuring instrumentation accuracy and data integrity.

The Manager oversees the deployment of weather sensors, power and communications infrastructure, and data acquisition systems while integrating wind LiDAR technology to capture vertical wind profiles. They also manage radiosonde systems for upper-air soundings, coordinating balloons and tracking mechanisms essential for a comprehensive atmospheric assessment. The role demands a blend of hands-on field expertise and strategic oversight, including the preparation and presentation of detailed weather briefings tailored to Launch Commit Criteria, ensuring the safety and efficiency of launches.

In addition to operational leadership, the Senior Meteorology Operations Manager enforces stringent QA/QC protocols, maintains asset lifecycle records, and troubleshoots hardware and software in challenging remote environments. They also develop and implement software packages that enhance real-time wind monitoring capabilities critical to range safety. Collaborating closely with Range Safety Personnel, Flight Performance Teams, and Mission Management, the Manager translates complex weather data into actionable operational constraints and risk assessments.

This position requires a comprehensive understanding of meteorological instrumentation, field deployment, numerical weather models such as HRRR, NAM, and WRF, and the ability to communicate complex meteorological data effectively to diverse audiences. Safety compliance, including tower safety and electrical grounding procedures, along with regulatory adherence such as FAA approvals, is an integral part of daily responsibilities. Candidates must be U.S. citizens eligible for a security clearance, as the role operates within secure and regulated environments.

The ideal candidate brings over a decade of direct meteorological field experience in aerospace or defense sectors, with demonstrated competence in operating meteorological towers and radiosonde systems. Preferred qualifications include extensive experience with wind LiDAR technology, advanced numerical weather prediction skills, and proficiency with data visualization and analysis tools like Python and GIS. Flexibility to work in various environmental conditions and travel up to 50 percent to domestic and potential international launch ranges is essential. This role offers the opportunity to play a critical leadership role in cutting-edge aerospace launch operations, contributing to the national space program and advanced technological missions.