Astrodynamics & Navigation Engineer

EVONA; California; On-site; USD 140,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Equity

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

EVONA is seeking an experienced Astrodynamics & Navigation Engineer to own mission design, trajectory analysis and navigation for advanced spacecraft. The role spans feasibility studies through on-orbit operations, combining orbital mechanics, simulation and spacecraft engineering.

Responsibilities include leading trajectory design, orbit maintenance strategies, and tool development, while collaborating with propulsion, GNC, flight software and operations teams to ensure mission success.

Qualifications

• Direct spacecraft mission design, astrodynamics or flight dynamics experience is essential.
• Typically 5–10+ years of relevant experience.
• Strong knowledge of orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics and navigation.
• Experience with STK/ODTK, FreeFlyer, GMAT or comparable tools.
• Programming capability in Python and/or MATLAB.
• Confidence owning technical analyses and communicating recommendations.
• Experience with rendezvous and proximity operations, advanced orbital trajectories, low-thrust propulsion or alternative navigation methods would be particularly valuable.

Responsibilities

• Lead spacecraft trajectory design, orbit determination and manoeuvre planning.
• Develop fuel budgets, orbit maintenance strategies and mission simulations.
• Analyse navigation accuracy, tracking coverage and collision avoidance.
• Build and improve flight dynamics tools.
• Support spacecraft operations, investigate anomalies and assess on-orbit performance.
• Work closely with propulsion, GNC, flight software and mission operations teams.

Skills

Orbital mechanics

Spacecraft dynamics

Navigation

Flight dynamics tools

Python / MATLAB

Mission design

Tools

STK/ODTK

FreeFlyer

GMAT

Job description

Where a spacecraft goes — and how accurately it gets there — starts with the engineer behind the mission.

We’re partnering with a space technology business looking for an experienced Astrodynamics & Navigation Engineer to take ownership of mission design, trajectory analysis and navigation for advanced spacecraft.

Your work will influence missions from the earliest feasibility studies through to on-orbit operations, bringing together orbital mechanics, simulation and practical spacecraft engineering.

The opportunity

• Lead spacecraft trajectory design, orbit determination and manoeuvre planning.
• Develop fuel budgets, orbit maintenance strategies and mission simulations.
• Analyse navigation accuracy, tracking coverage and collision avoidance.
• Build and improve flight dynamics tools.
• Support spacecraft operations, investigate anomalies and assess on-orbit performance.
• Work closely with propulsion, GNC, flight software and mission operations teams.

What you’ll bring

• Direct spacecraft mission design, astrodynamics or flight dynamics experience is essential. Missile, aircraft or general aerospace experience alone will not meet this requirement.
• Typically 5–10+ years of relevant experience.
• Strong knowledge of orbital mechanics, spacecraft dynamics and navigation.
• Experience with STK/ODTK, FreeFlyer, GMAT or comparable tools.
• Programming capability in Python and/or MATLAB.
• Confidence owning technical analyses and communicating recommendations.

Experience with rendezvous and proximity operations, advanced orbital trajectories, low-thrust propulsion or alternative navigation methods would be particularly valuable.

Why consider it?

Meaningful technical ownership, challenging spacecraft missions and the opportunity to shape the tools and methods used to fly them. Competitive compensation, equity and comprehensive benefits are available.

Applicable US export-control eligibility requirements apply.