Senior Astrodynamics Engineer, Space Domain Awareness

The challenge

A track comes down ambiguous. The orbit estimate will not settle, and the question is whether you are looking at a sensor artifact or a maneuver. The conjunction assessment that goes out tomorrow depends on the answer, and the customer's operators act on what you send. The numerical propagator and the force models are the repeatable part of orbit determination. The judgment is the job.

Role overview

Astrodynamics analysis for space domain awareness: orbit determination, conjunction assessment, and ephemeris propagation in support of U.S. government space operations. The day-to-day is numerical propagators and force models, working ECI and RIC coordinate frames, orbit estimation with navigation filters, and running physics-based simulations and post-processing results in MATLAB and Python, with STK and ODTK on the bench. Space Domain Awareness (SDA) is the discipline. The work is telling the customer what is actually happening on orbit, with the analysis to back it.

Specializations

Technical requirements

• BS in Aerospace Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or another STEM degree
• 7+ years in astrodynamics or orbital mechanics supporting real space operations
• Depth in orbit determination, conjunction assessment, and ephemeris propagation
• Fluency with ECI and RIC coordinate frames, numerical propagators, and force models
• Daily proficiency in MATLAB and Python, with experience in STK, ODTK, FreeFlyer, or other COTS astrodynamics analysis tools
• Active TS/SCI clearance

Preferred qualifications

• MS in Aerospace Engineering with an astrodynamics focus
• Experience with GNC algorithms or maneuver planning for on-orbit operations
• C/C++ experience for astrodynamics tool development
• Experience deploying analysis tools to AWS environments

Key responsibilities

• Conduct orbit state determination and orbit estimation using numerical propagators, force models, and navigation filters
• Perform conjunction assessment and safety of flight analysis, and generate and provide daily orbital data to government space customers
• Run physics-based simulations and post-process results to distinguish sensor artifacts from orbital maneuvers
• Perform ephemeris propagation and analyze orbital propagation and perturbations across orbital regimes, including geosynchronous orbit
• Evaluate sensor coverage and integrate commercial SDA data sources into analysis products
• Support High Accuracy Catalog (HAC) recreation and space traffic management analysis

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $158,000 - $170,000
• Annual bonus target 10%
• 9/80 compressed schedule
• On-site work at a cleared facility in the Denver area
• Continuing education budget ($4,000/year)