Jessica Comfort

About Jessica Comfort

With over two decades of experience in engineering management and aerospace systems, I am a Senior Mission Manager at SpaceX, where I contribute to advancing space exploration through strategic leadership and operational excellence. My mission is to drive innovation, foster collaboration, and deliver impactful results that align with SpaceX\'s vision of making life multiplanetary. By leveraging my expertise in systems engineering and customer relationships, I aim to empower teams and optimize processes to achieve ambitious goals. At SpaceX, I work at the forefront of aerospace innovation, leading cross-functional teams to ensure mission success. I apply my deep understanding of systems engineering and operations to manage complex projects, enhance communication, and drive process improvements. My contributions are grounded in strategic planning, risk management, and fostering a culture of collaboration that enables the organization to achieve breakthroughs in technology and sustainability.

Experience

1. Senior Commercial Mission Manager

   SpaceX

   Sep 2013 — Present · US

   Led end-to-end execution of commercial launch missions, serving as the primary customer interface from contract through launch and on-orbit delivery • Managed cross-functional teams across engineering, integration, test, and flight operations to deliver high-reliability missions on aggressive timelines • Translated customer requirements into executable mission plans, ensuring alignment across internal stakeholders and external partners • Owned spacecraft launch readiness, driving issue resolution, risk reviews, and real-time decision-making in high-consequence environments • Managed a diverse manifest including commercial satellite operators and rideshare missions • Drove payload integration and test campaigns, coordinating technical interfaces between spacecraft and launch vehicle systems • Led launch campaign execution, including customer coordination, readiness milestones, and day-of-launch operations • Built and maintained trusted customer relationships, balancing technical transparency with schedule and program constraints • Owned development, standardization, and continuous improvement of mission management workflows, streamlining processes to support higher launch cadence and operational scalability • Mentored and developed junior mission managers, strengthening team capability and leadership pipeline

Education

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  Bachelor of Science, Aeronautics and Astronautics

  1995 — 1999

Skills

• Earned Value Management
• Launch Operations
• Crm
• Critical Chain Project Management
• Project Planning
• Certified Green Belt
• Integrated Master Schedules
• Engineering
• Aerospace
• Renewable Energy
• Program Management
• Photovoltaics
• Engineering Management
• Six Sigma
• Project Management
• Solidworks
• Continuous Improvement
• Theory of Constraints
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Business Process Improvement
• Product Lifecycle Management
• Solar Energy
• Project Portfolio Management
• Product Road Mapping
• Pmo Design
• Process Improvement
• Cross-Functional Alignment
• Management
• Design for Manufacturing
• Situational Leadership
• Manufacturing
• Systems Engineering
• Testing
• Business Strategy
• Propulsion
• Product Management Skills
• Team Leadership
• Pmo Set-Up
• Satellite Systems Engineering
• Proposal Writing