Sr. Astrodynamics Engineer Flagstaff, Arizona, United States

At Katalyst we believe satellite owners and operators shouldn’t be stuck with outdated capabilities as they try to adapt to a rapidly changing environment. We are building the upgrade economy where satellites are reconfigured on orbit rapidly, routinely, and regularly. We do this by adding new capabilities to satellites post-launch with in-space servicing, giving operators a second chance to maintain their competitive edge. Katalyst’s hardware and software upgrades unlock the ability to respond quickly in an unpredictable environment, open new revenue streams, and dispose of the single-use model.We would love to hear from you if you :Want to see the impact of your work on the space industryEmbrace challenges with a desire for building skillsThrive finding solutions to ambiguous problemsRole Description:At Katalyst, we're building critical tracking infrastructure for lunar missions. Our family of software products enable safe and secure operations in, to, and from the cislunar domain. To help us accomplish this mission, we are looking for a passionate Astrodynamics Engineer to join our team.If you are fascinated by chaotic orbits and love the modeling and simulation of orbital dynamics to solve complex problems, this is your chance to make an impact in an exciting field. You’ll have a pivotal role in shaping our software for a decentralized cislunar tracking network for SSA/SDA that uses dynamic tasking, intelligent prediction, and distributed information sharing.You’ll work hand in hand with our product lead, designing and developing technical approaches and conducting feasibility analyses. We are looking for someone who has a good understanding of cislunar astrodynamics, modeling and simulation, and navigation filters.Key Responsibilities:Understand and address the risks and challenges of maintaining custody in the cislunar domainDecompose product features to development objectives and execution plansBuild out and test modeling and simulation for cislunar SDA architectures, including cislunar dynamics, sensor modeling, and visualization for performance characterization and developing scenario/test case developmentDesign and develop algorithms for orbit determination and state and uncertainty propagation in the context of cislunar astrodynamics and distributed systemsCollaborate closely with the product lead to align technical solutions with user needs and product vision, conducting feasibility analyses to ensure effective technical developmentEstablish and monitor key performance parameters and measures of effectivenessCoordinate and support detailed technical development across multiple organizations and disciplinesQualifications:Required:A technical degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Aerospace or a related fieldExperience in orbital mechanics, mission design, and/or state and uncertainty estimationExperience in modeling and simulationExcellent problem-solving skills and an intuitive grasp of complex astrodynamics challengesCapability to develop and implement modeling and simulation toolsExperience in navigation filtering, sensor modeling, and Kalman filteringExperience with orbit analysis tools, i.e., GMAT, STK, Monte, CopernicusProficiency in software engineering and best practicesAbility to understand and map user perspectives to technical solutionsProven ability to translate ambiguity into action, with excellent communication skillsExperience working with multi-organization and multi-disciplinary development teamsExperience leading complex technical software development projectsData science and machine learning methodsStrong knowledge in network architectures and sensing related to SDAStrong communication skills to effectively convey technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholdersProven track record in leading the development of novel cislunar algorithmsAll our full-time positions include a comprehensive benefits package:Direct Ownership: Equity package (stock-based compensation)Full Coverage: Great healthcare plan including dental & visionRelocation Assistance: Reimbursement for moving expenses and direct support navigating the housing market in FlagstaffFlexibility: In-person/remote work + robust Paid-Time-OffLocated in the heart of downtown Flagstaff, our office blends beautiful mountain vistas and immediate access to hiking trails with the urban advantage of diverse dining options right at our doorstep.Apply for this job#J-18808-Ljbffr