How to hire a space operations

How to hire a space operations, step by step

Here's a step-by-step space operations hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a space operations job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new space operations
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a space operations, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A space operations's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, space operations from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of space operations.

   Type of Space Operations	Description	Hourly rate
   Space Operations		$11-52
   Intelligence	Intelligence is responsible for providing information that is difficult to find. That may be an opportunity, potential threat, proposed policy option, or personal information regarding a government or foreign official... Show more	$23-81
   12B Combat Engineer	Combat engineers are vital outfits in a military unit. They construct and repair critical structures needed for military advances and defenses and destroy areas denying enemy control... Show more	$12-57

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • NASA

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage $120k annual budget while working closely with the COTR to ensure financial responsibility.
   • Manage $120k annual budget while working closely with the COTR to ensure financial responsibility.
   • Conduct comprehensive analysis of ship baseline installation packages for C5I modernization and resolution of configuration control and interoperability issues.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your space operations job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A space operations salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, space operations' average salary in montana is 55% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level space operations earn 78% less than senior-level space operations.
   • Certifications. A space operations with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a space operations's salary.

   Average space operations salary

   $51,953yearly

   $24.98 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level space operations salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 29, 2025

4. Writing a space operations job description

   A space operations job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a space operations job description:

   Space operations job description example

   **This position is eligible for the $500 Zel Tech Non-Employee Referral fee. Contact Zel Tech Recruiter for questions concerning this matter.**
   :
   
   We are seeking a Senior Cyberspace Operator to join our team. This position provides services at Fort Belvoir, VA and other locations as the mission requires. This position requires short deployments, and all candidates must be able to travel on short notice, work non-standard hours and take on-call duty as required.
   
   Responsibilities:
   Possess all the qualifications of a Cyber Space Operator noted in the preceding paragraph along with a mastery level experience working hands-on with computer network modeling software and computer network vulnerability/compliance analysis software. Be capable of operating in all operational and physical environments and work collaboratively and professionally with USG military and/or civilian personnel.
   Requirements:
   Have a current TS/SCI clearance. Must be a US citizen. Have or the ability to obtain a valid passport book. Bachelor's degree in computer science, cyber security, information technology, computer engineering or related technical field and two (2) or more years of operational experience. In lieu of a degree, six (6) plus years of commensurate experience may serve as a substitute. This experience can be obtained from the military, federal government, or other civilian positions in Cyber Space operations. Possess Cyberspace Operator experience. Adhere to CDC recommended immunizations for worldwide deployment. Possess effective oral and written communication skills. Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite. Ability to prepare written reports, white papers, and Power-Point presentations. Certs CSSP Auditor certification as defined and described in Joint Publications 3-13 Information Operations and 3-12 Cyberspace Operations, DoDI 8500.1, DoD 8570.01 and 8570.01-M, IAT Level II (Security+) and CSSP Auditor Certification (CEH, PenTest +,or CySA+) and as amended.
   Physical Demands or Work Environment:
   
   The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   The majority of the time is spent in an office setting. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance, vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus. Frequently required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear.
   About Zel Tech
   
   Zel Tech is a minority owned small business (NAICS 541715) specializing in customer threat reduction. We provide a full spectrum of threat reduction services from planning, training, operations, R&D, advising, and solution prototyping across our services and solutions business groups. We combine best of breed engineering practices, subject matter expertise, design services, computer science, and data analytics with innovative approaches in artificial intelligence and machine learning, AR/VR, R&D, and physics-based modeling and simulation providing tailored solutions addressing our customer's unique threat requirements.
   
   Our Mission
   
   We provide customers with the knowledge, tools, and solutions needed for correct and timely decisions and effective actions to help ensure U.S. national security.
   
   Diversity Workforce
   
   Zel Tech team members represent a wide range of backgrounds, skills, experience, and personalities bound together by common objectives and mutual respect. You will join a caring community of professionals, including many military veterans who challenge and support each other in seeking the right solutions to important matters.
   
   Benefits
   Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance Flexible spending accounts Voluntary life/accidental death & dismemberment Educational assistance and special training programs Voluntary benefits Group life insurance Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance Paid Time Off (PTO), Holiday Leave, Jury Duty, and Military leave Savings and Retirement Plans
   Equal Opportunities
   
   Zel Tech is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis on race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, military status, genetic predisposition, or any other basis protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find space operations for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your space operations job on Zippia to find and recruit space operations candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit space operations, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new space operations

   Once you've found the space operations candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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