Mission Operations and Controls Engineer/Specialist: Orbital Analyst (Clearance Required)

Sierra Space•Centennial, CO

3d•$119,064 - $163,713

About The Position

Sierra Space is seeking a skilled Orbital Analyst to join their space operations team. This role is responsible for continuously monitoring the position and velocity of artificial objects in Earth orbit or deep space, applying mathematical models and observational data to precisely calculate orbital parameters, predicting potential close approaches between objects and recommending necessary avoidance maneuvers, designing optimal trajectories for spacecraft launches, orbital transfers, and reentries, tracking and cataloging space debris to help prevent dangerous collisions, and assessing the risk of collision between various space objects. The candidate will develop and use tools to perform precise orbit determination using specialized software tools. The role involves monitoring and analyzing spacecraft and satellite trajectories while supporting mission planning through trajectory design and optimization, including developing and using specialized software tools to perform precise orbit determination. A critical aspect of the position focuses on space safety, encompassing collision avoidance analysis and the development of mitigation strategies, maintaining space catalogs and applicable processes that enable mission execution, and generating detailed reports on conjunction events and close approaches. The role requires close collaboration with flight operations mission teams to support spacecraft maneuver planning and ensure mission success. In this role, you will specify, architect, and integrate complex system solutions while collaborating with cross-functional teams and subject matter experts to understand project requirements and objectives. You will derive, decompose, allocate, trace, and manage system requirements and architectures, as well as define and document system concepts of operation. Supporting development milestone reviews by creating artifacts and deliverables will be a key responsibility, alongside overseeing system integration and verification activities to ensure system functionality and performance. You will identify and manage technical risks, develop mitigation strategies, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying areas for enhancement. Adhering to established engineering processes and standards will be essential, and you will communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders to ensure project alignment and successful execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or master’s +3 yrs experience).
Typically, 5+ years of related experience (or Masters + 3 years of experience).
Emerging expertise in Systems Engineering principles and practices, including a thorough understanding of the systems development lifecycle.
Knowledge of requirements management, functional requirements parsing, derivation, and allocation.
Knowledge of systems architecture, systems integration, and Verification and Validation (V&V) principles.
Emerging ability to work and communicate with technical and specialty subject matter expert engineers to drive systems engineering products.
An active Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance is required.
U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of spacecraft mission planning, scheduling, and orbit analysis.
Experience with astrodynamics libraries, propagators, etc.
Experience working commercial and/or government Space Domain Awareness programs.
Extensive experience or education in orbital mechanics.
Ability to script, C, C++, Python, JavaScript, Ruby or related programming experience.
Experience with Government Cloud Architectures (GovCloud or others).
Extensive experience or education in RPOD.
Experience with C2 and TT&C Software Development.
Full Stack Developer.
Cloudera, OpenShift, Kubernetes experience; either on or working with software, DevSecOps, etc teams.

Responsibilities

Continuously monitoring the position and velocity of artificial objects in Earth orbit or deep space.
Applying mathematical models and observational data to precisely calculate orbital parameters.
Predicting potential close approaches between objects and recommending necessary avoidance maneuvers.
Designing optimal trajectories for spacecraft launches, orbital transfers, and reentries.
Tracking and cataloging space debris to help prevent dangerous collisions.
Assessing the risk of collision between various space objects.
Developing and using tools to perform precise orbit determination using specialized software tools.
Monitoring and analyzing spacecraft and satellite trajectories.
Supporting mission planning through trajectory design and optimization.
Performing collision avoidance analysis and developing mitigation strategies.
Maintaining space catalogs and applicable processes that enable mission execution.
Generating detailed reports on conjunction events and close approaches.
Collaborating with flight operations mission teams to support spacecraft maneuver planning and ensure mission success.
Specifying, architecting, and integrating complex system solutions.
Collaborating with cross-functional teams and subject matter experts to understand project requirements and objectives.
Deriving, decomposing, allocating, tracing, and managing system requirements and architectures.
Defining and documenting system concepts of operation.
Supporting development milestone reviews by creating artifacts and deliverables.
Overseeing system integration and verification activities to ensure system functionality and performance.
Identifying and managing technical risks and developing mitigation strategies.
Contributing to continuous improvement initiatives by identifying areas for enhancement.
Adhering to established engineering processes and standards.
Communicating effectively with team members and stakeholders to ensure project alignment and successful execution.