Spacecraft Systems Engineer / Mission Analyst

Overview

Stellar Solutions, a nationally recognized “Great Place to Work”, has exciting opportunities providing Engineering solutions for innovative new-entrant space companies, as well as established space systems manufacturers, commercial space system operators and service providers, and other industry stakeholders including investors.  

At Stellar Solutions, we offer talented, energetic, and immediately productive resources to satisfy our customers’ critical needs in systems engineering and integration, mission operations, program management and strategic planning. We are a leading service and expertise provider for high-tech commercial ventures, spanning communications, earth observation and remote sensing systems and data products, to the infrastructures that support earth orbiting and beyond earth orbit businesses.

Stellar Solutions is seeking a Spacecraft Systems Engineer / Mission Analyst to support the design of multiple commercial space systems, including LEO constellations and novel space debris removal systems.

Role/Responsibilities/Qualifications

In this role, you will:

• Review, assess, and contribute to spacecraft delta-V analyses, including orbit raising using low-thrust electric propulsion, orbital transfers, station-keeping, and end-of-mission disposal
• Support modeling and mission planning for rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking with orbital targets
• Review customer-generated mission analysis products and provide independent technical assessment, recommendations, and troubleshooting
• Perform or augment mission analysis activities as needed to support program schedules and technical objectives
• Provide spacecraft systems engineering expertise throughout spacecraft development, integration, and test
• Apply subsystem and spacecraft-level operations expertise to evaluate spacecraft design and mission performance
• Provide technical oversight and support coordination with spacecraft bus and payload integration partners
• Model LEO constellations in support of ground coverage and contact analyses using STK or similar tools
• Support technical trades, design reviews, troubleshooting, and resolution of spacecraft development, integration and test issues
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to the customer, identifying technical risks and helping guide engineering decisions throughout mission development and execution

Requirements:

• BS in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 5+ years of relevant experience in spacecraft systems engineering, mission analysis, GNC, spacecraft operations, or a related field
• Experience performing or evaluating spacecraft mission and orbital analysis, including orbital maneuvers, transfers, station-keeping, or trajectory analysis
• Working knowledge of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) principles and spacecraft dynamics
• Experience supporting spacecraft development, integration, test, and/or on-orbit operations
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex technical analyses, identify risks and issues, and provide sound engineering recommendations
• Ability to work effectively with customers, spacecraft developers, and other technical stakeholders to resolve engineering issues and support technical decision-making
• Experience with mission analysis and engineering tools such as MATLAB, Python, Excel, STK/Astrogator, GMAT, ODTK, or similar tools
• Clearance: Secret with eligibility for TS
• Travel: max 20% of time

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), docking, or relative motion analysis
• Experience with low-thrust electric propulsion mission analysis and orbit raising
• Experience providing technical oversight of spacecraft bus development, payload integration, or spacecraft suppliers
• Experience in the analysis of LEO constellations and contact management
• Clearance: active TS/SCI preferred

Location: VA or remote

In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for a comprehensive total rewards package that includes an annual performance bonus, an employer-funded Profit-Sharing Plan (PSP) contribution based on base compensation, and comprehensive employer-paid medical benefits, PTO pay-out options, along with additional company-sponsored benefits. All of these benefits represent an additional 30-40% to your base compensation for a total compensation package.

Deliverable(s)

Help shape and execute first-of-their-kind commercial space missions, including spacecraft designed to rendezvous with and remove orbital debris from LEO. Apply mission analysis and spacecraft systems expertise from early design through integration, test, and operations while serving as a trusted technical advisor on complex mission and engineering decisions.