Orbit Determination and Navigation Engineer I, II
The Orbit Determination and Navigation Engineer supports spacecraft trajectory analysis and navigation product generation for deep-space missions, contributing to maneuver design and mission operations. This role involves performing orbit determination analyses, managing tracking data, and developing software workflows to ensure accurate navigation solutions, with opportunities to work independently and collaborate across engineering and mission teams. The position offers a hybrid remote work arrangement across multiple U.S. locations and supports cutting-edge lunar and interplanetary exploration missions.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Aerospace & Space Systems.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Role overview
Confidential Client is seeking an Orbit Determination and Navigation Engineer (Level I — Associate or Level II — Professional) to join its orbit determination (OD) and navigation team in Glen Burnie, MD. This role supports trajectory reconstruction, estimation, and navigation product generation for deep-space and Earth‑orbiting missions. Placement at Level I or Level II will reflect demonstrated competencies.
- Location: Glen Burnie, MD (primary work location)
- Employment type: Full-time
- Estimated salary: $104,386 per year (estimated)
What You’ll Do
- Support daily orbit determination solutions, trajectory reconstructions, covariance analyses, and tracking data quality assessments.
- Produce trajectory updates to support maneuver design, reference trajectories, and science observations.
- Prepare tracking data, assist with run setup, review residuals, and generate routine navigation products.
- Verify inputs, units, coordinate frames, time systems, and outputs for accuracy and completeness.
- Support planning, feasibility studies, test activities, effort estimates, and documentation.
- Use established OD software and analysis scripts; assist with simple updates and routine troubleshooting while following coding, configuration, and quality practices.
Additional Level II responsibilities:
- Independently configure estimation runs, assess residuals and covariance outputs, and evaluate solution behavior.
- Plan assigned analyses, identify data and resource needs, estimate effort, assess risks, and coordinate schedules.
- Test more complex solutions, troubleshoot analysis issues, and develop/maintain OD scripts and workflows.
- Prepare technical reports and communicate findings to mission teams and external customers while ensuring products meet quality standards.
Minimum qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related discipline.
- GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- U.S. citizenship (required).
- Foundational knowledge of astrodynamics, orbit determination, estimation, flight path control, guidance, or filtering theory (through coursework, research, internships, or projects).
- Clear technical writing and verbal communication skills and strong attention to detail.
- Working knowledge of Python and the ability to use established analysis scripts and make simple updates under guidance.
- Ability to follow established procedures, check results carefully, manage assigned tasks, and escalate issues when appropriate.
- Foundational awareness of aerospace standards, regulations, and safety requirements relevant to navigation work.
Preferred qualifications (Level II / desirable)
- Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or related discipline.
- Coursework or experience in two or more of: statistical orbit determination, estimation, astrodynamics, statistics, linear control theory, or Kalman filtering.
- Familiarity with deep-space mission operations, optical navigation, tracking data types, or flight path control.
- Experience with macOS or Linux environments and additional languages such as C, C++, MATLAB, Fortran, or Perl.
- Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining analysis scripts and software workflows with version control, testing, and documentation practices.
- Experience preparing technical reports and briefing mission teams or external customers.
Other requirements
- Availability to travel and to support extended operations hours as required for mission support.
- Willingness to cross-train across navigation disciplines to support a multi-mission workforce.
Working at Confidential Client
Confidential Client operates in the aerospace / space systems sector and supports mission design through flight operations for science and exploration. As part of the navigation team you will contribute to resilient navigation capability development and mission success.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
Negotiate a higher salary! Check the salary ranges for this job type in your area.
View My Salary Range