Astrodynamics Systems Engineer Principal

Description

SAIC is seeking an Astrodynamics Systems Engineer to join the Space and Intelligence Business Group. You would work on a joint Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) crown jewel program providing highly specialized space/counter-space engineering, scientific, and analytical services from Aurora, Colorado. We support the country's leading edge IC and DoD space programs and offer compelling, deep-technical work that has direct influence and impact on program development and operations. Our team has Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) across a variety of disciplines, including physics, math, RF, optics, space acquisition and operations, and intelligence collection and analysis.

This Astrodynamics Systems Engineer will work in a collaborative team-focused environment of Government civilians and contractors solving applied technical problems and developing useable solutions for multiple space-related capabilities and threats. The ideal candidate will:

• Have experience developing algorithms and engineering tools for IC and/or DoD satellite systems in Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) or Special Access Program (SAP) environments
• Have a strong mathematical and orbit analysis background
• Be able to develop and execute your work assignments from general guidance and objectives provided by management

Duties and responsibilities include:

• Designing, developing, using and evaluating mathematical models, methods, and algorithms to manipulate large data sets and creating engineering software tools to enable solving analytical questions or problems
• Refining and enhancing existing engineering tools to make them more functional or usable by others
• Generating or participating in orbital analyses or trade studies
• Formulating and interpreting problems in mathematical or computational terms
• Developing and maintaining in-depth knowledge of U.S. Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities, as well as Foreign SDA capabilities and counter-space threats
• Participating and representing the customer in various Government and contractor meetings and attending contractor programmatic and technical reviews (e.g. PMR, PDR, CDR, etc.) to provide technical recommendations and risk assessments
• Conducting tasking and collection of Space Domain Awareness data and participating in the subsequent data analysis function
• Frequently interacting with program managers, SETAs, FFRDCs and external stakeholders
• Developing productive relationships with the Program Office, Prime, and Subcontract counterparts, functional IC or DoD counterparts, and other SMEs
• Repeated use and application of technical standards, principles, theories, concepts and techniques

Qualifications

• Minimum of a bachelor's degree in physics, Engineering or Math and 9 or more years of direct experience with modeling and simulation of satellites, space mission analysis, and astrodynamics
• Active TS/SCI Clearance with Special Access eligibility and consent to a Counter Intelligence (CI) polygraph. US Citizenship is required
• Hands-on experience with creating algorithms and engineering tools for processing large data sets quickly and efficiently
• Demonstrated proficiency using MATLAB, Python, or similar
• Experience with orbit modelling and trajectory planning utilizing Systems Tool Kit (STK)
• Understanding of Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) techniques
• Demonstrated record of effective individual and group work behaviors, with abilities to proactively initiate and operate in dynamic and incompletely defined environments
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience conveying technical concepts, results, and summaries to internal customers, external customers, and stakeholders of diverse technical backgrounds
• Demonstrated willingness to be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and make objective, defendable work products with the information at hand

Strongly Desired Skills:

• Master's or Doctorate Degree in Engineering or Math
• Experience in satellite development factory or space system program office (SPO), particularity with Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) systems
• Working knowledge of radar and/or optical technologies
• Familiarity with National Security Space architecture (IC and/or DoD)
• Proficiency using Orbit Determination Tool Kit (ODTK) or other OD toolsets

Target salary range: $160,001 - $200,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.