# Orbital Operations Lands $35M Pentagon Deal for In-Orbit Spacecraft Demo **Author:** Zero G Talent **Published:** 2026-11-11 **Category:** engineering **Tags:** yc-hiring, aerospace, space defense, cryogenics, liquid propulsion, mechanical engineering [Read on Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com/blog/orbital-operations-lands-35m-pentagon-deal-for-in-orbit-spacecraft-demo) --- The Department of Defense has awarded [Orbital Operations](https://zerogtalent.com/space-companies/orbital-operations) a contract worth up to $35 million to conduct a full-scale in-orbit demonstration of Astraeus, its cryogenic-maneuvering space vehicle, as reported by [Payload Space](https://payloadspace.com/exclusive-dod-taps-orbital-operations-for-cryogenic-spacecraft-demo/). The defense contract arrived alongside a $7 million seed extension, expanding on the company's $8.8 million seed round led by Initialized Capital with participation from Harpoon Ventures, DTX Ventures, Rebel Fund, TRAC VC, Karman Ventures, and Immad Akhund, according to [Payload Space](https://payloadspace.com/orbital-operations-raises-8-8m-for-high-thrust-orbital-vehicle/). Founded in 2024 out of Y Combinator's W25 batch, the startup is building orbital defense and transport hardware capable of sustained operations in space. ## High-Thrust Cryogenic Maneuvering in Orbit Traditional high-performance rocket propellants, such as liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, require extreme cold: 20 Kelvin (-424°F) for hydrogen and 90 Kelvin (-297°F) for oxygen. Sunlight and radiation in space cause these propellants to boil off, forcing spacecraft to vent their tanks within days. Orbital Operations bypasses this limit using its Cryogenic Propellant Management System (CPMS), an active refrigeration cycle powered by a reverse turbo Brayton system to achieve zero boil-off over multi-year missions. Paired with a proprietary 10,000 lbf liquid-oxygen/liquid-hydrogen engine, Astraeus provides 10 km/s of Delta-v. This enables high-thrust maneuverability across low Earth orbit (LEO), geosynchronous orbit (GEO), and cislunar space. The system can slash LEO-to-GEO transit times from six months down to six to eight hours. While Astraeus offers long-term commercial logistics applications such as satellite servicing and deployment, the company's initial focus is military space defense. Speaking in a video with [Initialized Capital](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX2Eh6OKxjY), the leadership team explained that Astraeus acts as a reusable third-stage platform designed to protect critical space infrastructure like GPS, naval command, and communications satellites. In a video interview on [Heliux](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ix0BUb55_U), the founders outlined how Astraeus can serve as a flexible platform analogous to a C-17 aircraft, accommodating space domain awareness, reconnaissance, and non-kinetic interception loadouts. Ben Schleuniger also noted in a [This Week in Startups Clips](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlYpDI822_4) feature that in-orbit reusability and high propellant efficiency are essential to making orbital mobility economically viable. ## Experienced Aerospace Leadership in Space Beach Orbital Operations was founded by former Relativity Space engineers who established the company's headquarters and manufacturing operations in North Long Beach, California, as reported by the [Long Beach Press-Telegram](https://www.presstelegram.com/2025/08/25/new-aerospace-company-orbital-operations-opens-its-doors-in-north-long-beach/). - [Ben Schleuniger](https://zerogtalent.com/people/ben-schleuniger) (Co-Founder & CEO): Began his career in propulsion at NASA before working on the Dragon capsule at SpaceX. At Relativity Space, he owned fluid systems for the TM1 rocket, managed Aeon-R heat exchangers, and built the Components and Integrated Design and Analysis teams. - [Ross Doherty](https://zerogtalent.com/people/ross-doherty) (Co-Founder & COO): Previously worked at Aerojet Rocketdyne and Blue Origin before leading turbomachinery manufacturing and assembly for the Aeon-R engine at Relativity Space, where he also managed qualification for the TM-1 Flight Termination System. In his interview with [Heliux](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ix0BUb55_U), Schleuniger described their organizational strategy as "dumbbell recruiting," pairing veteran leaders who have brought multiple engines to life with early-career talent from top collegiate rocket programs. ## Hiring Across Engineering and Vehicle Systems To support engine development, hardware fabrication, and test campaigns, Orbital Operations is building out its technical team in Long Beach across hardware design, electrical integration, and propulsion. Engine development is led by senior technical talent, with the [Engine Responsible Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/orbital-operations/engine-responsible-engineer-104927) ($135,000 – $200,000) taking end-to-end ownership of the liquid-oxygen/liquid-hydrogen engine system. This covers tubing, P&IDs, turbomachinery, combustion devices, valves, instrumentation, controls, and test site data analysis. Rotating systems for the cooling and propellant feeds are handled by the [Turbomachinery Mechanical Design Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/orbital-operations/turbomachinery-mechanical-design-engineer-105084) ($110,000 – $200,000), who works across architecture trades, detail design, manufacturing, and testing for pumps and turbines. Primary airframe and vehicle assembly falls to the [Structures Design Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/orbital-operations/structures-design-engineer-105083) ($140,000 – $200,000), serving as Responsible Engineer for pressurized tanks, thrust frames, and integrated fluid systems from initial requirements through flight integration. System-wide electronics are directed by the [Avionics Mechanical Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/orbital-operations/avionics-mechanical-engineer-105078) ($140,000 – $200,000), who drives electrical integration across propulsion, flight software, and launch operations. Generalists looking for cross-disciplinary engineering ownership can apply for the entry-level [Rockstar](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/orbital-operations/rockstar-105079) ($100,000 – $175,000) position to tackle challenges across CPMS, fluids, structures, and vehicle integration. ## Open Roles at Orbital Operations | Role | Location | Work Mode | Salary | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Engine Responsible Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/orbital-operations/engine-responsible-engineer-104927) | Long Beach, California, United States | Onsite | $135,000 – $200,000 | | [Structures Design Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/orbital-operations/structures-design-engineer-105083) | Long Beach, California, United States | Onsite | $140,000 – $200,000 | | [Avionics Mechanical Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/orbital-operations/avionics-mechanical-engineer-105078) | Long Beach, California, United States | Onsite | $140,000 – $200,000 | | [Turbomachinery Mechanical Design Engineer](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/orbital-operations/turbomachinery-mechanical-design-engineer-105084) | Long Beach, California, United States | Onsite | $110,000 – $200,000 | | [Rockstar](https://zerogtalent.com/space-jobs/orbital-operations/rockstar-105079) | Long Beach, California, United States | Onsite | $100,000 – $175,000 | [See all open roles at Orbital Operations](https://zerogtalent.com/space-companies/orbital-operations) --- *Source: [Zero G Talent](https://zerogtalent.com), the job board for space, defense, AI, robotics and frontier-tech companies.*