Space Systems Analyst

HEO•Arlington, VA

About The Position

We are a rapidly growing, US-based space startup revolutionizing satellite imaging using advanced in-orbit capabilities. Specifically, our expertise lies in leveraging in-space assets for Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Non-Earth Imaging (NEI). As an international company, we navigate a unique landscape while delivering critical services to our clients. Having recently secured several significant contracts, we are expanding our team to meet the exciting demands of our growth. To support this next phase, we’re building a high-performing, interdisciplinary team capable of pushing the boundaries of space technology. We’re looking for talented, passionate people who value collaboration, growth, and learning to join us. HEO is a post-Series A company backed by high-profile venture funds including Airtree, Y Combinator, and In-Q-Tel. We are headquartered in Sydney, Australia, with offices in London, UK, and Washington, D.C., USA. The Opportunity We are seeking an early-to-mid-career Space Systems Analyst with a strong data engineering and analytics mindset to turn raw in-orbit data into high-impact intelligence. In this role, you will bridge the gap between complex orbital dynamics and data science, directly shaping how our customers visualize and understand behavior in orbit. You will be responsible for the data-driven "full-stack" of SDA analysis: from processing raw telemetry and sensor data to building interactive visualization dashboards and generating automated pattern-of-life insights. The ideal candidate blends the rigorous mathematical framework of orbital dynamics with the practical software toolkit of a modern data analyst.

Requirements

2–5+ years of professional experience in a data-centric engineering or analysis role, ideally supporting aerospace, remote sensing, defense, or intelligence applications.
High proficiency in Python for data manipulation, statistical analysis, and Git version control within production repositories and libraries.
Solid experience leveraging data visualization suites (e.g., Grafana) and advanced SQL querying.
Experience with cloud computing platforms, with a strong preference for AWS.
While a foundational understanding of orbital mechanics, relative orbital motion, coordinate systems, and satellite subsystems is a plus, we are highly enthusiastic about data professionals with a strong physics/math background who are eager to learn and master these concepts on the job.
Strong critical thinking skills; you should be comfortable experimenting with new methodologies to solve "first-of-their-kind" space challenges.
Exceptional written and verbal skills, specifically the ability to produce intelligence-grade writing or scientific reporting with meticulous attention to detail.
Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Physics, Mathematics, Aerospace Engineering, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
Must have the ability to obtain or maintain a US government Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

Process, clean, and model raw NEI and satellite telemetry data using Python and our in-house tools to extract consistent, high-quality technical insights.
Design, build, and maintain interactive dashboards using tools like Grafana to provide real-time or mission-critical visual analytics for operations and client teams.
Develop and operationalize analytical pipelines to seamlessly transition ad-hoc research into automated operational assets.
Leverage Python and SQL to fuse NEI-derived insights with other information sources to develop novel insights on complex space objects.
Apply a foundational understanding of orbital mechanics to calculate sensor-to-target geometries and ideal imaging conditions.
Coordinate with HEO’s globally distributed team of engineers and specialists to standardize analytical methodologies, refine metrics, and enhance the customer platform.
Work closely with US government and commercial customers to translate their mission needs into technical requirements.