Senior Navigation Engineer

Redcanyonsoftware; Westminster (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Redcanyonsoftware is looking for a Senior Navigation Engineer in Westminster, Colorado, leading innovation in space navigation. The ideal candidate will drive spacecraft navigation efforts and mentor junior engineers.

This role requires extensive experience in spacecraft navigation, the ability to develop advanced navigation tools, and strong communication skills. Candidates must be U.S. persons authorized to work without sponsorship and familiar with navigation challenges in deep space.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years of professional experience in spacecraft navigation or related roles.
• Demonstrated leadership of navigation tasks and OD campaigns.
• Significant experience with navigation tools in flight or flight-like applications.

Responsibilities

• Lead spacecraft navigation for all mission phases.
• Develop and validate advanced Kalman filter configurations.
• Mentor junior navigation engineers in best practices.

Skills

Spacecraft navigation

Kalman filters

Orbit determination

Astrodynamics tools (MONTE, FreeFlyer)

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Master’s or PhD in related fields

Tools

MONTE

FreeFlyer

ODTK

GMAT

STK

Job description

We are seeking a Senior Navigation Engineer to join a team leading humanity back to the Moon and pioneering innovative solutions in the space industry. Based in Westminster, Colorado, this team is looking for a Sr Spacecraft Navigation Engineer who can drive innovation, mentor junior engineers, and support spaceflight operations.

This position is responsible for leading development efforts, supporting a technically diverse team, and conducting detailed analyses of navigation technology and missions. The role will be based in Westminster, Colorado, and the ideal candidate will have a passion for the exploration, development, and settlement of space.

This position is open to U.S. Persons only (U.S. citizens, or lawful permanent residents), as required by applicable laws and regulations.

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVE SECURITY CLEARANCE is desired but not required - TS/SCI IS PREFERRED

We do not provide visa sponsorship or support work authorization for this role. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for current or future sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead spacecraft navigation for all mission phases, including formulation, tracking architecture development, estimation approach, and operations.
• Develop and validate advanced Kalman filter configurations for complex regimes (multi-body, low-thrust, weak observability).
• Serve as primary navigation lead for flight operations prep, including console support, real-time OD, and anomaly response.
• Architect navigation solutions that account for mission design, GNC, communications, and ground system constraints.
• Own navigation products for major reviews, clearly communicating performance, trades, and risks.
• Mentor junior navigation engineers in OD, filter design, measurement modeling, and operations best practices.
• Drive improvements to navigation procedures, tool setups, and standard operating practices.
• Support BD and IRAD by shaping navigation concepts, contributing to proposals, and defining new mission and capability concepts.

Qualifications

• 8–12 years of professional experience in spacecraft navigation, orbit determination, or closely related flight dynamics roles.
• Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field.
• Demonstrated leadership of OD campaigns or major navigation tasks, including filter setup, force models, and tracking strategies.
• Proven ability to design and adapt Kalman filters for new dynamical and tracking regimes, including dynamic, bias, stochastic, and consider parameters.
• Significant experience with navigation/astrodynamics tools (e.g., MONTE, FreeFlyer, ODTK, GMAT, STK) in flight or flight-like applications.
• Strong navigation operations experience, including nav operator training/certification or equivalent console and contingency support.
• Ability to act as primary navigation point of contact, interacting with vendors and partners, driving requirements, owning verification/validation, and conducting system-level trades.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with a record of leading technical presentations and navigation analysis reports.
• US. Person (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident), able to work on-site in Westminster, CO.
• Master’s or PhD with emphasis on Kalman filters, state estimation, or astrodynamics.
• Experience leading navigation support for maneuver planning and execution, including tracking schedule design and mission design trades.
• Expertise across multiple measurement types (radiometric, GPS, optical, angles-only) and in designing measurement configurations.
• Experience integrating navigation into system requirements, CONOPS, and ICDs, and leading navigation verification and reporting.
• Demonstrated use of the MONTE astrodynamics toolkit.
• Leadership of navigation-related IRAD or proposal sections, shaping IRAD concepts and navigation win themes.
• Familiarity with cislunar and deep-space navigation challenges, including three-body regimes, timing/clock issues, and tracking network limitations.
• Familiarity with multi-spacecraft mission concepts.
• Active TS/SCI or prior clearance preferred.