Spacecraft Rendezvous and Proximity Operations Analyst

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education assistance

Retirement contributions

Work-life balance

Job summary

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks engineers to design, analyze, test, and deliver spacecraft for NASA and national security missions. You will develop toolsets, perform trajectory analyses for rendezvous and proximity operations, and support ground software integration with flight and testbed hardware.

Ideal candidates hold an MS in Aerospace Engineering or related field, with 5+ years of experience, and are proficient in MATLAB/Simulink.

Qualifications

• MS in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in design, analysis, or development of complex aerospace systems.
• Proficient in MATLAB and Simulink.
• Ability to obtain TS/SCI clearance; US citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Assist in design, development, and delivery of mission concepts for Earth, cislunar, and interplanetary spacecraft with focus on rendezvous and proximity operations.
• Assist in trajectory control and estimation algorithms, actuator/sensor models, and dynamic simulations.
• Develop and test ground software to integrate testbed algorithms and flight software with hardware.
• Support spacecraft integration, testing, and data analysis.
• Contribute to pre-launch and post-launch performance analyses.
• Support spacecraft operations and develop analysis tools for missions.

Skills

MATLAB

Simulink

Education

MS in Aerospace Engineering or related field

PhD in Aerospace Engineering or related field

Job description

Description

Do you enjoy designing algorithms, flight software, and testing hardware used for spacecraft Guidance and Control (G&C) and Mission/Trajectory Design (MD) during Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO)?
Would you love to apply your technical knowledge and creativity to make innovative contributions to some of the nation's cutting edge space missions, supporting both civil and national security space organizations?
Are you searching for a collaborative and fulfilling work environment?

If so, we 're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL!

We are seeking creative engineers to help us develop, analyze, test, and deliver spacecraft for both NASA and National Security Space missions. Our spacecraft reaches the extremes of the solar system, from Parker Solar Probe at the Sun to New Horizons at Pluto and beyond, with formation flying at Earth, to constellations in cislunar space, as well as planetary defense with DART and developing landers such as Dragonfly to remotely operate above the surface of Titan. We would love to have you apply your talents to our challenges. As a member of our team, you will contribute to the development of some of our nation 's most critical space missions, joining a hardworking team of engineers who strive to deliver game-changing solutions. You will have the opportunity to support both pre-launch spacecraft development and post-launch operations performance analysis and system updates. We are passionate about our work, striving to cultivate an environment of partnership and collaboration, and committed to making critical contributions to critical challenges.

As an Engineer for the Astrodynamics and Controls Group you will...

• Assist in the design, development, and delivery of mission concepts for various Earth, cislunar, and/or interplanetary spacecraft, with your primary focus being developing toolsets and performing analysis related to the rendezvous and proximity operations phase of missions.
• Assist in the implementation of trajectory control and estimation algorithms, actuator and sensor hardware models, and dynamic simulations.
• Assist in the development and testing of ground software to support the integration of testbed algorithms and flight software with flight and ground support equipment hardware.
• Assist with the integration and test of spacecraft through scenario testing and data analysis.
• Support spacecraft operations.
• Develop analysis tools for pre and post-launch activities.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Possess a MS in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• Have at least 5 years of experience in the design, analysis, or development of complex aerospace systems.
• Are skilled in analytical and numerical computing software, such as MATLAB and Simulink.
• Are able to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You 'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Possess a PhD in Aerospace Engineering or related field.
• Have at least 10 years of spacecraft mission experience in either design, analysis, development, testing, or operations.
• Have worked on a program that performed RPO activities.
• Have experience in extended Kalman Filters, Frequency Domain Analysis, or Stability and Jitter Analysis.
• Possess an active Top Secret clearance (or above).

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

We celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$100,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$245,000 Annually