Senior Astrodynamics Engineer

Meet Slingshot 

At Slingshot Aerospace, we're on a mission to make space safer and more secure for everyone. Our work directly impacts global security, disaster response, climate monitoring, and the critical infrastructure that connects our world. We're a team of builders, thinkers, and problem-solvers who believe that the next generation of space operations will be powered by better data and smarter software. We move fast, we're not afraid to fail, and we believe the best ideas can come from anywhere—whether you're in engineering, sales, product, or operations. If you want to work on something that truly matters, with people who care deeply about the impact we're making and help shape the future of an industry that's just getting started, you're in the right place. 

What You’ll Be Launching 

As a senior member of the Astrodynamics team, you will take a lead role advancing Slingshot’s efforts to accelerate space operations intelligence and automation, ensuring the security, safety, and sustainability of space.

This work involves leading the development of advanced astrodynamics, orbit determination including multi-sensor multi-object multi-phenomenology data fusion, and satellite and constellation mission optimization.

You will also support the development of physics and AI/ML-based algorithms and software for analytics and insights.

You will act as the subject matter expert, provide knowledge and expertise to internal and external stakeholders, lead research and development initiatives, mentor other members of the team and support product demonstrations, business development, bid and proposal process, and outreach activities.

In this role you will develop and enable delivery of solutions across Slingshot’s core functions: Sense, Fuse, Decide, Act.

Your Mission (Should you choose to accept it)  

• Execute all position responsibilities in alignment with Slingshot’s core values, mission, and purpose   
• Implement advanced astrodynamics, orbit determination, and optimization techniques towards space operations intelligence and autonomy 
• Support ongoing and future transitions of Slingshot’s astrodynamics capabilities to the Slingshot Global Sensor Network (SGSN) and pipeline, Slingshot product offerings, and customer applications 
• Provide astrodynamics subject matter expertise (e.g., sensor fusion and multi-target tracking algorithms, conjunction analysis algorithms, astrodynamics, mission optimization, etc.) to internal and external teams 
• Lead technical work on larger team efforts including cross-team initiatives   
• Architect candidate solutions based on requirements and feedback from internal and external stakeholders, identify required technical developments needed to meet stakeholder requirements, and present findings to leadership for final selection and resourcing decisions 
• Monitor and follow up on technical progress of designated projects, work with stakeholders to mitigate data issues and deliver high-quality solutions, and prepare technical reports and briefing materials 
• Represent your team and Slingshot to a broader audience through presentations to customers and stakeholders   
• Aid in customer discovery process and contribute to proposal responses 
• Collaborate effectively with Slingshot’s project, product, software engineering, and science teams to contribute your expertise and ideas to help shape our products and strategies to meet customer mission-critical needs 
• Assist in the identification and subsequent execution of science initiatives in support of strategic objectives, product roadmaps and/or internal research and development 
• Share subject matter expertise through mentoring and training of other staff, and support growth of the team’s technical competencies, promoting a culture of feedback and accountability    
• Collaboratively draft journal articles and attend conferences and related events  
• Perform other duties as assigned (to be less than 10% of the responsibilities listed above) 

Pre-flight Checklist 

• Ph.D. (or MS + 8 years of experience) in astrodynamics or aerospace engineering disciplines, with emphasis in orbit determination, spacecraft navigation, dynamic systems modeling and simulation, space weather/environment modeling, mission planning and optimization, remote sensing, high-performance computing, or space operations 
• Demonstrated proficiency in algorithm development and implementation in a formal programming language (e.g. python, java/kotlin, C/C++) 
• Ability to work within multi-disciplinary teams in a fast-paced, evolving operational environment that spans military, government, and industry partners 
• Solid verbal and written communications skills 
• Tenacious drive to overcome challenges and deliver solutions with excellence 
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time 
• Must be a U.S. citizen eligible for and able to obtain and maintain a security clearance

Bonus Cargo 

• Published journal articles on a subject related to stochastic estimation for space flight, spacecraft mission planning and design, and/or spacecraft/constellation optimization 
• Experience in dynamic modeling as it relates to space flight applications 
• Demonstrated understanding of AI applications to modern problems in space flight or space traffic management 
• Experience developing, implementing, and transitioning technology to production 
• Past development experience using open source astrodynamics libraries (e.g. orekit) 
• Experience leading technical development initiatives  

We're building a constellation here, not looking for identical satellites. Every member of the team brings different capabilities to the same mission. If your orbit intersects with ours and you're mission-ready, send it. 

Location: Remote, US

Salary: $150,000-$250,000

Classification: Full-time Exempt (learned professional exemption)