Senior Astrodynamics/Mission Analysis Engineer

Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo,  we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on.  Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster.

This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.

• As an Astrodynamicist and Mission Analysis Engineer on the GNC Team, you will be the Responsible Engineering Authority (REA) for all modeling, simulation, and analysis for a program, study, or proposal.

  Mission Analysis Engineers don't just execute on ideas - they innovate creative solutions and novel designs to improve our products and solidify Space Kinetic as an industry leader. You will have full access to provide proof to concept success iteration with the impact of GNC principles.

  You will develop methods to simulate mission scenarios and assess end-to-end constellation capabilities; design and deploy image processing, inertial tracking, state estimation, and optimal control algorithms for sensor systems; and provide tools and modeling platforms for validating system performance during on-orbit mission operations.

Job Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain simulations for large satellite constellations to assess effectiveness against mission requirements
• Create models for space vehicle payloads to use in system trades and performance predictions
• Develop novel algorithms, models, and data processing schemes for MW/MT, RPO, and SDA systems
• Architect the Concepts of Operation (CONOPS)/Design Reference Mission (DRM) and their associated simulations
• Collaborate with software and firmware teams to develop platforms for simulation deployment (e.g. software/hardware-in-the-loop)
• Develop and validate flight dynamics software partnering with mission operations, spacecraft subsystems, and software engineering teams to support mission design, on-orbit operations, and contract phases 
• Design and analyze constellation architectures, including orbital regimes, plane spacing, phasing strategies, and deployment concepts
• Own mission and system level analysis ensuring space vehicle designs meet or exceed requirements across subsystems
• Define and maintain high-fidelity simulation environments to support development of mission architecture and day in the life analysis for a variety of different missions
• Lead development of mission concept of operations
• Identify, create, and use available tools to model and analyze a given system’s performance and capability in relation to mission objectives
• Perform trade studies for various mission designs to meet contact coverage, lifetime, regulatory requirements, and validate mission feasibility
• Serve as the astrodynamics/mission analysis technical interface to systems engineering, flight software, avionics, mechanical, thermal, manufacturing, and mission operations teams to ensure mission objectives are understood and supported by product design
• Prepare for and present at internal and customer design reviews as a flight dynamics subject matter expert
• Support spacecraft mission operations, and anomaly investigation using telemetry and flight data during planning and execution phases
• Provide technical direction and mentorship to junior engineers and contribute to the development of team processes, standards, and best practices.

What It Takes:

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, computer science, physics or related technical field from accredited university
• 3+ years of experience in maneuver planning, orbit analysis, mission design/analysis, spacecraft GNC, and flight dynamics related to operations for spacecraft systems
• Strong background in orbital dynamics, spacecraft subsystems, and their relation to each other 
• Demonstrated experience analyzing spacecraft orbits and maneuvers, orbit determination, and propulsion performance for trajectory design.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical work across multiple disciplines and mentor junior engineers
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Collaborative and effective in team environments
• Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as STK, GMAT, or equivalent
• Proficiency with Matlab and Python software development
• Ability to maintain or obtain Government Security Clearance.
• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder).
• Ability to maintain or obtain a Government Security Clearance is required. 

What We’d Love:

• Master’s degree or PhD in aerospace engineering, physics or related technical field from accredited university
• Experience with NASA ORDEM, NASA BUMPER, NASA DAS, NASA MEM3 
• Experience with implementing automation across simulation architectures
• Familiarity with conjunction assessment approaches and collision avoidance workflows
• Experience with cislunar three-body trajectory design and navigation
• Experience with Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) mission design including relative orbit design and navigation
• Familiarity with Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) image processing, from photon to Warfighter
• Experience with supporting flight software development
• Coding experience in matlab, C++, Python and/or Rust 
• Experience designing low-thrust and hybrid propulsion spacecraft missions
• Experience with alternative forms of spacecraft navigation (e.g. OpNAV, inter-satellite links)
• Exposure to other spacecraft subsystems (e.g. GNC, propulsion, FSW)

• The position is onsite at our headquarters in El Segundo, CA. Domestic travel may be required (up to ~20% of the year).