Range Director

About the company

Southern Launch offers bespoke space mission services from two complementary spaceports in Australia. Its vertically integrated processes for orbital and suborbital launch, hypersonic flight, re-entries from space, and range services for advanced system testing have been proven by customers and regulators.

About the role

The Range Director is responsible for leading stakeholder engagement, overseeing regulatory implementation, and directing all operational activities on the range. As the primary authority during on-range operations, the role ensures activities are executed safely, compliantly, and efficiently. Responsibilities include:

• Lead stakeholder engagement across government agencies, regulators, landholders, and emergency services to enable safe and coordinated launch operations.
• Operationally manage the implementation of secondary approvals, including NOTAMs, maritime safety zones, park access, and land closures.
• Coordinate pre-launch stakeholder briefings and ensure timely notifications and updates to all relevant parties.
• Review launch application material to verify completeness and regulatory alignment, working with the project managers to resolve gaps or issues.
• Direct on-range operations during vehicle arrival, integration, and launch preparation, maintaining oversight of all safety-critical activities.
• Act as the on-range operational authority, including executing termination procedures when instructed by the Range Safety Officer to preserve public and personnel safety.

About you

We are proud of the diversity of experience within our team and will be encouraged by what you can bring to this position. We are initially looking for:

• Proven leadership of complex, high-risk field operations, ideally in aerospace, defence, or emergency services
• Direct experience managing live test ranges or operations with air/sea/land closures and public safety considerations
• Deep understanding of launch and range safety protocols, including termination procedures
• Skilled in regulatory and stakeholder engagement (e.g. NOTAMs, maritime authorities, landholders, councils)
• Strong, time-critical decision-making with a calm, resilient command presence
• Confident, safety-first communicator with exceptional situational awareness and interpersonal skills

This position requires you to hold and maintain a valid Australian Defence Security Clearance.