PO-2901 · Staff Scientist 4

Senior Orbital Dynamics Scientist

Develop orbit determination, coverage, conjunction, and observation-planning methods for distributed flight and sensing programs.

Public record · JOB-PO-2901
Directorate
Persistent Observation
Location
Observation & Mission Operations Center4000 Horizon Road
Workplace
hybrid
Employment
regular
Base salary
$162,000–$221,000
Travel
Up to 15%
Access
Research Access 3
Posting status
Open

The role

What you will be responsible for.

  • Maintain high-fidelity propagation and estimation models with traceable inputs.
  • Design coverage schedules and quantify unobserved intervals.
  • Support mission operations during launches, maneuvers, and anomalies.

Required qualifications

  • Advanced degree in aerospace engineering, astronomy, physics, or applied mathematics.
  • Seven years in astrodynamics, orbit determination, or space-domain awareness.
  • Strong numerical software and estimation background.

Preferred experience

  • Operational mission support.
  • Optical and radar observation fusion.

Operating conditions

Occasional night and weekend console support.

Visibility is evaluated from the observing system’s assigned perspective.

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Ranges reflect base salary for the assigned level. Offers consider relevant experience, internal equity, and the operating requirements of the role.

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