Maria Cristina Lupi graduated in Physics in January 1990 and joined Telespazio in July of the same year, becoming part of the SAX project team. She was responsible for the design and development of the Satellite Control Centre. Until 1999, she contributed to the Artemis and SICRAL ground segment programmes, working on Control Centres, Mission Centres, Satellite Control Centres, and AIV ground segment activities.

Between 2000 and 2003, she was involved in the Galileo programme (Phases B1, B2 and C0), contributing to the Ground Segment definition, infrastructure requirements specification, security requirements definition, and the assessment of security impacts on Galileo Control System network elements.

She led a team responsible for Satellite Ground Segment design and implementation from 2003 to 2008. In 2008–2009, she served as Project Manager for the ESA EDRS programme during Phases 0, A and B1.

From 2009 to 2015, she was appointed Local Business Unit Manager for Italy within the transnational Business Unit Networks & Connectivity. In this role, she held full P&L responsibility at country level, overseeing contract management and project delivery, coordinating tender preparation, and leading a team of 25 Program Managers and 10 Project Managers.

From mid-2009 to June 2019, she served as Head of the System Engineering Organizational Unit, reporting to the Chief Technical Officer.

In July 2019, she joined e-GEOS as Head of the Engineering and Services Provisioning Unit. She was also responsible for the Industrial Planning Unit.

In March 2023, she rejoined Telespazio within the Technology & Innovation organization, taking responsibility for the Product Policy & Open Innovation Unit. The unit also oversees Intellectual Property governance and International Frequency & Regulatory Coordination activities.

Since September 2025, she has been seconded to the Leonardo Space Division as Head of Product Policy and Open Innovation.