Senior Interplanetary Mission Design Navigator

Relativity Space; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

Learning stipend

Generous PTO

Equity

Job summary

Relativity Space is seeking a Senior Mission Design and Navigation Engineer in Long Beach to lead trajectory analysis for the 2028 Mars Orbiter mission. You will own interplanetary and Mars orbital designs, advance flight navigation, and interface with DSN to ensure successful science goals from launch through Mars operations.

The role requires a strong background in astrodynamics, orbital mechanics, and software development in Python/MATLAB, with cross-team collaboration across GNC, software,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical discipline with 5+ years of experience.
• Experience in spacecraft mission design, astrodynamics, flight navigation, orbit determination, or mission design software.
• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics and trajectory analysis.
• Experience with radiometric navigation and orbital determination.
• Ability to communicate technical decisions across engineering stakeholders.
• Software development experience in Python, MATLAB, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Own mission design and trajectory analysis for the 2028 Mars Orbiter mission.
• Develop and optimize interplanetary and Mars orbital trajectories under various constraints.
• Grow into technical ownership of flight navigation including orbit determination and data processing.
• Define requirements and interfaces for processing DSN radiometric tracking measurements (Doppler, range, Delta-DOR).
• Serve as the primary navigation interface with the Deep Space Network (DSN).
• Develop and maintain mission design/navigation tools, software architectures, and analysis capabilities.
• Act as an authority for Mission Design and Navigation across disciplines.

Skills

Astrodynamics

Orbit determination

Trajectory analysis

Python

MATLAB

Software development

Cross-team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical/Aeronautical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, or related technical discipline

Tools

MONTE

DSN interfaces

Job description

Relativity Space is seeking a Senior Mission Design and Navigation Engineer in Long Beach to lead trajectory analysis for the 2028 Mars Orbiter mission. You will own interplanetary and Mars orbital designs, advance flight navigation, and interface with DSN to ensure successful science goals from launch through Mars operations.

The role requires a strong background in astrodynamics, orbital mechanics, and software development in Python/MATLAB, with cross-team collaboration across GNC, software,