Navigation Engineer III
On-siteWestminster, Colorado, United States
Job Summary
Navigation Engineer III responsible for spacecraft navigation analyses, including orbit determination and covariance assessment, with hands-on Kalman filter tuning and toolchain setup (MONTE, FreeFlyer, ODTK, GMAT, STK). Will configure estimators, run navigation models, support navigation operations, and communicate results to mission teams, while contributing to IRAD/BD efforts and potentially leading flight-operations activities. Requires 5–8 years in navigation/astrodynamics, a relevant bachelor's degree, proficiency in Kalman filtering and at least one major navigation tool, experience with tracking measurements and Python/MATLAB data processing, and the ability to work on-site in Westminster, CO.
Required Qualifications
- 5–8 years of professional experience in spacecraft navigation, orbit determination, or related astrodynamics roles
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related field
- Hands-on experience applying Kalman filters or related state estimation techniques, including basic tuning and troubleshooting
- Proficiency with at least one major navigation/astrodynamics tool (e.g., MONTE, FreeFlyer, ODTK, GMAT, STK)
- Working knowledge of tracking measurements (range, Doppler, angles, GPS, optical) and their impact on accuracy and observability
- Ability to use Python, MATLAB, or similar tools to automate navigation analyses and data processing
- Strong analytical and communication skills for presenting navigation findings to diverse stakeholders
- U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident), able to work on-site in Westminster, CO
- Desired: Experience leading spacecraft flight operations (OD updates, trajectory monitoring, maneuver planning)
- Experience as lead or supporting navigation engineer during the development phase of a flight program
- Familiarity with cislunar or three-body orbit regimes (e.g., NRHOs, Lagrange orbits) and associated navigation strategies
- Experience using MONTE for OD, covariance analysis, and measurement/force model configuration
- Understanding of timing and clock errors, error sources, and tracking network constraints on navigation performance
- Experience contributing to navigation-related proposals or IRAD (e.g., technical sections, estimates, prototype estimators)
- Active or prior security clearance a plus.
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