Orbital Mechanics Analyst III, Mission Design

Role

As a Orbital Mechanics Analyst III, Mission Design at Orbit Fab, you would be responsible for: Orbit determination and GN&C system development, simulation and mathematical modeling, and performance analysis to understand and solve the challenges associated with refueling spacecraft in orbit. A large part of this will be to ensure compliance with existing and emerging rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD) operations and systems.

This position is open to multiple levels of experience and exact roles/responsibilities will be tailored to the selected candidate. Don’t hesitate to apply if you are more or less experienced than listed! Below are the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities that we need to have as a team. You don't need all of them. Your aptitude for complex technical challenges and your practical experience solving problems and designing/building/coding stuff will trump specific qualification or tools any day!

Responsibilities

• Own the analysis of Orbit Fab mission architectures and spacecraft trajectories across the mission lifecycle from concept definition to flight operations.

• Lead mission design and maneuver planning activities from rendezvous through docking to ensuring optimal fueling profiles.

• Lead the analysis of Orbit Fab on-orbit operations and mission architectures, including Orbital Mechanics and constellation design.

• Develop shuttle mission operations profiles and planning tools.

• Develop tools and analysis to support Orbit Fab’s Tanker constellation design.

• Analyze GN&C system performance for Orbit Fab Tankers

• Provide input to operations planning for Orbit Fab spacecraft.

• Identify and resolve GN&C performance-related issues and assist others in the resolution of issues, including ADCS.

• Define and manage technical direction of RPOD contractor partners.

• Develop script used in UMPIRE software.

• Concisely document the results of all verification, validation and analysis activities.

• Directly interact with customers, both government and commercial.

• Recommend additional Subject Matter Expertise as required.

Experience, Qualifications, and Characteristics

• Experience developing simulations to analyze spacecraft trajectories and GN&C performance.

• Experience developing GN&C algorithms and analyzing system performance for spacecraft in an integrated GN&C environment. 

• Experience with orbital mechanics and spaceflight dynamics.

• Experience developing, verifying, and validating simulations, math models, etc.

• Experience developing algorithms for guidance, navigation and control functions.

• Experience with GMAT, STK or other applicable astrodynamics tools

• Expertise with Matlab, Python, or similar.

• Oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to work in a team environment.

• BS degree and five (5) years of related engineering experience, MS degree in related field and three (3) year of related engineering experience, or PhD in related field.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen/Person and able to successfully complete a U.S. government background investigation.

Nice to have

• Expertise with Simulink toolboxes and Embedded Coder 

• Experience with systems engineering and requirements management tools such as Asana, Valispace, Jira, Jama, or similar.

• Experience developing flight software.

• Familiarity or expertise with Control Systems including spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control system.

• Experience with computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine learning

• Experience with requirements management, decomposition, and communication

• Expertise working spacecraft or launch vehicle operations.

• MS or PhD. in Aerospace Engineering with a focus on GN&C, flight controls, orbital mechanics.

• Familiarity with Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking flight operations and procedures.

• Direct experience with LINUX, C, etc. 

• Active Security Clearance. 

The salary range for this position is $120,000-150,000
If you feel you would succeed in the role above, we encourage you to apply regardless of whether or not you meet all of the requirements listed.

Location and Benefits

Orbit Fab is based out of Lafayette, Colorado and all roles are based in Colorado. We offer fully covered benefits, discretionary time off and flexible work hours.

Eligibility

Some job roles may be limited to US Persons (22 CFR 120.62 “U.S. person”).

Orbit Fab Inc does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.