Navigation Engineer III

Responsibilities

• Perform spacecraft navigation analyses, including orbit determination, trajectory reconstruction, and covariance assessment.
• Configure, tune, and validate Kalman filters and other estimators for radiometric, optical, and GPS navigation.
• Set up and run navigation toolchains (e.g., MONTE, FreeFlyer, ODTK, GMAT), including force and measurement models.
• Support navigation operations, including console activities, routine OD updates, and procedure refinement.
• Communicate navigation results and recommendations to customer and mission teams.
• Support navigation requirement and task identification and work planning.
• Contribute to IRAD and BD efforts

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.