Spacecraft Navigation & Timing Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

4h•Onsite

About The Position

Are you passionate about spacecraft astrodynamics, estimation, optimization, spacecraft navigation and timing (PNT) beyond geostationary orbits, and modern computing? Would you love to apply your technical knowledge and creativity to make innovative contributions to some of the nation's most challenging and rewarding space missions? Are you searching for a collaborative, fulfilling work environment? If so, we 're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL! Our spacecraft reach the extremes of the solar system, from Parker Solar Probe at the Sun, New Horizons at Pluto and beyond, and everything in between. Whether it is developing the next Jovian moon tour, calculating an optimal low-thrust trajectory, helping to coordinate time between vehicles in cislunar space, or applying modern scientific computing to radiometric navigation, there is a wellspring of intellectually rewarding challenges for the right candidate. We are seeking a self-motivated engineer who will lead and participate with our growing team of PNT specialists focusing on time transformation, synchronization, and dissemination, engaged in developmental efforts beyond geostationary orbits into the cislunar region of space, and ultimately to the lunar surface, and beyond. This effort may support both the civil space and national security space mission areas, from conception to flight. You will have the opportunity to support both pre-launch developmental design efforts through post-launch optimization and analysis. Contributing directly to our continuously evolving code-base and individually pursuing IR&D funding, you will work with our team to ensure that APL is on the cutting edge of PNT. 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 a PNT subject matter expert... Your primary responsibility will be supporting efforts to improve timing onboard spacecraft or surface landers for cislunar, lunar and interplanetary missions for both civilian and DoD applications. Help to develop analyses, software, and hardware that can be used provide traceability of time in the region and surface of the moon; to establish a Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) to be referenced back to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Exposure to timing analysis based on a relativistic framework is a plus. You will provide intellectual leadership to emerging mission concepts and methods of analysis. You will hold a vital role on projects while working across teams composed of experts in other engineering disciplines, scientists, and program managers. You will be expected to contribute to cutting edge time transfer and navigation methodologies through independent and directly funded research and development. You will be expected to leverage and garner relationships across industry and academia to tackle our most critical challenges. You will be required to stay abreast of recent advances in academia and industry and apply these concepts to problems of interest.

Requirements

Possess a MS in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science or related field.
Have significant coursework in the astrodynamics, optimization and estimation, relativistic timing, mathematics, navigation techniques, and/or computer science.
Have at least 4 years of experience in spacecraft timing, navigation, or another rigorous technical field.
Possess or are willing to acquire knowledge of GPS, relativistic, weak signal GNSS, and time transfer techniques.
Skilled in analytical and numerical computing, such as C++, Fortran, MATLAB, Python, and/or Java.
Willing and 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.

Nice To Haves

Possess a PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science or related field.
Have at least 10 years of experience in spacecraft timekeeping, navigation, or another rigorous technical field.
Have direct experience with coordinated timekeeping for distributed spacecraft constellations or missions beyond GEO.
Have experience participating in agile software development projects involving many stake holders.
Have experience in common astrodynamics software environments such as Monte, STK, ODTK, FreeFlyer, or GMAT.
Possess an active Top Secret clearance (or above).
Have possessed and are familiar with network access to DoD related systems.
Exposure to timing analysis based on a relativistic framework is a plus.

Responsibilities

Supporting efforts to improve timing onboard spacecraft or surface landers for cislunar, lunar and interplanetary missions for both civilian and DoD applications.
Develop analyses, software, and hardware that can be used provide traceability of time in the region and surface of the moon; to establish a Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) to be referenced back to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Provide intellectual leadership to emerging mission concepts and methods of analysis.
Hold a vital role on projects while working across teams composed of experts in other engineering disciplines, scientists, and program managers.
Contribute to cutting edge time transfer and navigation methodologies through independent and directly funded research and development.
Leverage and garner relationships across industry and academia to tackle our most critical challenges.
Stay abreast of recent advances in academia and industry and apply these concepts to problems of interest.