Trajectory Design and Guidance Engineer

The Role

You will be the core driver of the spacecraft’s orbital and guidance systems – including low thrust trajectory design and mission planning, while executing detailed trade studies to find new and novel ways to implement these strategies, and supporting business development in mission planning and constellation design.

In the first 3 months, you will own and execute all major trade studies related to the low thrust trajectory design of the vehicle while supporting the development of a robust and sustainable 6-DOF simulation for the company. In the first 6 months you will begin designing and implementing the core GNC algorithms that fly the spacecraft, with a particular focus on algorithms for on orbit station keeping and low thrust orbit raise. In the first year, you and the GNC team will complete the first flight demonstration of the GNC system while preparing for future generations of spacecraft.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with other engineers to develop a novel high level vehicle mission plan

• Develop novel algorithms for precise OD and station-keeping of very large structures in earth orbit and beyond

• Leveraging one of the largest Hall Effect Thrusters ever manufactured, design the low thrust trajectory for the vehicle to reach MEO, GEO, Cis-Lunar, and Mars.

• Develop simulation and modeling tools to support vehicle and GNC trade studies

• Contribute to building the GNC organization by recruiting, hiring, and mentoring other engineers

Qualifications

• Experience with low thrust trajectory design

• Experience with Precise Orbit Determination

• Experience implementing orbit guidance and control algorithms on a spacecraft

• Experience in mission design

• Experience with Python, Julia, C/C++, or Rust for algorithm development, implementation, and simulation

Nice to Have

• Experience with early stage spacecraft conceptual design, i.e. “clean sheet” design work

• Experience with low-thrust station-keeping algorithm development

• Experience with thruster sizing and algorithm implementation

• Experience developing a satellite constellation

• Experience with operating satellites on orbit

• Experience with 6-DOF simulation development

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary range for this role is $125,000 - $200,000 + equity in the company

• Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level

• Comprehensive benefits package including unlimited paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged! If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.