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Navigation Engineer (5-8 yrs)

Westminster, Colorado

Advanced Space | Full-time | Hybrid

We’re going to the Moon. Think you’ve got what it takes? 

 

About the Role 

At Advanced Space, we're enabling humanity's return to the Moon and building the technologies that will take us to Mars and beyond. We're looking for a Navigation Engineer with 5–8 years of experience to help develop advanced spacecraft navigation solutions for some of the most ambitious missions in the space industry.

In this role, you'll develop navigation algorithms, perform orbit determination analyses, and support mission-critical navigation systems across multiple flight programs. You'll contribute to missions including NASA's CAPSTONE™ spacecraft operating in a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) around the Moon and Oracle, AFRL's lunar space situational awareness mission, while helping shape the future of cislunar exploration.

We're looking for someone who thrives in technically challenging environments, enjoys solving complex astrodynamics problems, and is excited to contribute to missions that are flying today—not just concepts.

This position is open to U.S. Persons (U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents) only. Visa sponsorship is not available.

 

About Advanced Space 

Advanced Space exists to enable the sustainable exploration, development, and settlement of space through innovative software, mission services, and technology solutions. As the owner and operator of NASA's CAPSTONE™ mission and the Prime Contractor for AFRL's Oracle mission, we're helping shape the future of cislunar exploration while supporting commercial, civil, and national security customers. 

Our team combines deep technical expertise with an entrepreneurial mindset. We move quickly, collaborate across disciplines, and empower every engineer to make meaningful contributions. If you're passionate about solving challenging problems and seeing your work fly in space, you'll fit right in. 

 

What You'll Actually Do 

Develop and analyze spacecraft navigation solutions.

Perform orbit determination, trajectory reconstruction, covariance analysis, and spacecraft navigation assessments that support mission planning, flight operations, and mission success.

Build robust estimation architectures.

Configure, tune, and validate Kalman filters and other estimation techniques for radiometric, optical, and GPS navigation. Develop and maintain force models, measurement models, and navigation toolchains that support complex mission environments.

Support mission operations.

Contribute to navigation flight operations through routine orbit determination updates, console support, trajectory monitoring, and operational procedure improvements. Help ensure accurate spacecraft state estimation throughout mission execution.

Collaborate across engineering teams.

Work closely with mission design, software, systems engineering, and flight dynamics teams while communicating navigation analyses, technical recommendations, and mission performance to customers and internal stakeholders.

Help shape future missions.

Support navigation planning, technical task identification, proposal development, and internal research initiatives that advance Advanced Space's navigation capabilities and future exploration programs.

 

Who Thrives Here 

  • You have 5–8 years of experience in spacecraft navigation, orbit determination, astrodynamics, or a closely related discipline.
  • You have experience performing orbit determination, trajectory reconstruction, and covariance analysis.
  • You're comfortable configuring, tuning, and validating Kalman filters or other state estimation techniques.
  • You have hands-on experience with industry-standard astrodynamics and navigation tools such as MONTE, FreeFlyer, ODTK, GMAT, or STK.
  • You understand tracking measurements including range, Doppler, optical observations, GPS, or angles-only measurements and how they impact navigation performance.
  • You have experience using Python, MATLAB, or similar tools to automate navigation analyses and data processing.
  • You communicate technical concepts clearly and can present navigation analyses to engineers, customers, and mission teams.
  • You enjoy collaborating across engineering disciplines and contributing to technically challenging missions.
  • You take ownership. When you see a challenge, you work with the team to solve it.

 

Bonus Points if You Have Experience With

  • Leading or supporting spacecraft flight operations
  • Navigation support during spacecraft development programs
  • Cislunar, NRHO, Lagrange point, or three-body orbit navigation
  • MONTE astrodynamics toolkit
  • Timing systems, clock errors, and navigation error source analysis
  • Proposal development or IRAD activities
  • An active or previous security clearance
  • A Master's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Physics, Mathematics, or a related field

 

Success is Measured By 

  • Delivering accurate, reliable navigation solutions throughout mission development and operations.
  • Producing high-quality orbit determination analyses and state estimation results.
  • Building and maintaining robust navigation architectures for complex spacecraft missions.
  • Supporting successful navigation flight operations and mission execution.
  • Collaborating effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
  • Contributing to proposals, technology development, and future mission concepts that expand Advanced Space's capabilities.

 

Why Join Advanced Space 

  • Work on real missions that are shaping the future of lunar and deep-space exploration.
  • Help develop navigation solutions for cutting-edge spacecraft and mission concepts.
  • Collaborate with some of the industry's top experts in astrodynamics, autonomy, and mission design.
  • Be part of a growing company where your technical contributions have a direct impact on mission success.
  • Join a team that's passionate about delivering innovation to orbit—and beyond.

 

 Compensation & Benefits 

  • Base Salary: $115,500–$148,400 (based on experience, qualifications, and location)
  • Signing bonus
  • Quarterly performance bonuses
  • Company-sponsored medical benefits and 401(k)
  • Flexible time off
  • Relocation assistance

 

 Advanced Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. 

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