GNC Engineer: Orbit Determination & Space Safety

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Redmond, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Comprehensive medical, vision & dental

401(k) retirement plan

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Paid vacation (3 weeks)

Paid holidays (10+)

Employee shuttle to Redmond

Job summary

SpaceX in Redmond, WA seeks a GNC Engineer, Orbit Determination/Stargaze to advance orbital collision avoidance for the Starlink constellation. You will maintain and improve orbit-determination tools, develop image-processing algorithms, and collaborate with mission teams to ensure safe, reliable space operations.

The role requires a bachelor's degree in a STEM field and experience with Python or C++, with advanced degrees preferred for deeper orbit-determination work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, computer science, or other STEM discipline.
• Experience in software development using Python or C++.
• Advanced degree in aerospace engineering or related field with focus on orbit determination or space situational awareness.
• Expertise in sequential estimation techniques, including Kalman filtering, residual editing, filter tuning, covariance analysis, consider parameters, adaptive processes, and covariance realism.
• Strong background in orbital modeling and propagation, including high-fidelity orbit propagation, drag modeling, density models, and space weather parameters.
• Hands-on experience with sensors, telescopes, astrometry, photometry, and image reduction for optical observations.
• Proficiency in data analysis techniques, including statistical tests (chi-squared, KS) and data correlation methods.
• Familiarity with space traffic management, conjunction data messages, and TLE sets.
• Development, testing, and deployment of algorithms for real-world space applications, with Git proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Maintain, update, and operate orbit determination tools and pipelines to support collision avoidance and space safety operations.
• Develop and refine image processing algorithms for object detection and data association to enhance system performance.
• Operate surveillance systems and collaborate with collision avoidance and mission operations teams to support real-time decision-making.
• Improve overall system performance by updating orbit determination, image processing, and prediction algorithms for higher accuracy and reliability.

Skills

Python

C++

Git

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, computer science, or other STEM discipline

Tools

Git

Job description

SpaceX in Redmond, WA seeks a GNC Engineer, Orbit Determination/Stargaze to advance orbital collision avoidance for the Starlink constellation. You will maintain and improve orbit-determination tools, develop image-processing algorithms, and collaborate with mission teams to ensure safe, reliable space operations.

The role requires a bachelor's degree in a STEM field and experience with Python or C++, with advanced degrees preferred for deeper orbit-determination work.