Astrodynamics Systems Engineer

Job Summary

SAIC is seeking an Astrodynamics Systems Engineer to join the Space and Intelligence Business Group. You will 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. Our team of subject‑matter experts spans physics, math, RF, optics, space acquisition and operations, and intelligence collection and analysis.

You will collaborate with government civilians and contractors to solve applied technical problems and develop usable solutions for multiple space‑related capabilities and threats.

• Design, develop, use, and evaluate mathematical models, methods, and algorithms to manipulate large data sets and create engineering software tools that enable the solution of analytical questions or problems.
• Refine and enhance existing engineering tools to make them more functional or usable by others.
• Generate or participate in orbital analyses or trade studies.
• Formulate and interpret problems in mathematical or computational terms.
• Develop and maintain in‑depth knowledge of U.S. Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities, as well as foreign SDA capabilities and counter‑space threats.
• Represent the customer in various government and contractor meetings and attend contractor programmatic and technical reviews (e.g. PMR, PDR, CDR) to provide technical recommendations and risk assessments.
• Conduct tasking and collection of Space Domain Awareness data and participate in the subsequent data analysis function.
• Frequently interact with program managers, SETAs, FFRDCs, and external stakeholders.
• Develop productive relationships with the Program Office, Prime, and subcontract counterparts, functional IC or DoD counterparts, and other SMEs.
• Repeatedly apply technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques.

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in physics, engineering, or math and 5 more years of direct experience with modeling and simulation of satellites, space mission analysis, or astrodynamics.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with special access eligibility and consent to a counter‑intelligence (CI) polygraph. U.S. citizenship is required.
• Hands‑on experience creating algorithms and engineering tools for processing large data sets quickly and efficiently.
• Demonstrated proficiency using MATLAB, Python, or similar.
• Experience with orbit modeling 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 the ability 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 to produce objective, defendable work products with the information at hand.

• Master’s or Doctorate degree in engineering or math.
• Experience in satellite development factory or space system program office (SPO), particularly 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.

Location:

AURORA, CO, United States
Benefits:  (benefit link)

Target salary range: $120,001 - $160,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

SAIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, visit  For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.