Navigation Engineer (5-8 yrs)

The team at Advanced Space is leading humanity back to the Moon and pioneering innovative solutions in the space industry. Based in Westminster, Colorado, this incredible team is looking for a Navigation Engineer with 5-8 years of experience who's eager to push the state of the art in the aerospace industry.

This position is responsible for development of navigation algorithms, supporting a technically diverse team, and conducting detailed analyses related to spacecraft navigation. The ideal candidate will have experience in developing spacecraft navigation software, evaluating new estimation formulations, and improving legacy approaches to spacecraft navigation. This role will support multiple projects and programs.  Our exciting flight programs include CAPSTONE, an ARTEMIS pathfinder spacecraft operating in a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO) at Earth-Moon L2, and Oracle, an Air Force Research Lab mission for space situational awareness at the Moon.

This position will be headquartered at our Westminster, Colorado offices and is primarily an on-premises role. The Spacecraft Navigation Engineer will work closely with a multidisciplinary engineering team focused on spacecraft navigation, mission design, and technology development.

This position is open to U.S. Persons only (U.S. citizens, or lawful permanent residents), as required by applicable laws and regulations.

We do not provide visa sponsorship or support work authorization for this role. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for current or future sponsorship.

 

Responsibilities

• Perform spacecraft navigation analyses, including orbit determination, trajectory reconstruction, and covariance assessment.
• Configure, tune, and validate Kalman filters and other estimators for radiometric, optical, and GPS navigation.
• Set up and run navigation toolchains (e.g., MONTE, FreeFlyer, ODTK, GMAT), including force and measurement models.
• Support navigation operations, including console activities, routine OD updates, and procedure refinement.
• Communicate navigation results and recommendations to customer and mission teams.
• Support navigation requirement and task identification and work planning.
• Contribute to IRAD and BD efforts.

Required Qualifications

• 5–8 years of professional experience in spacecraft navigation, orbit determination, or related astrodynamics roles.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or related field.
• Hands-on experience applying Kalman filters or related state estimation techniques, including basic tuning and troubleshooting.
• Proficiency with at least one major navigation/astrodynamics tool (e.g., MONTE, FreeFlyer, ODTK, GMAT, STK).
• Working knowledge of tracking measurements (range, Doppler, angles, GPS, optical) and their impact on accuracy and observability.
• Ability to use Python, MATLAB, or similar tools to automate navigation analyses and data processing.
• Strong analytical and communication skills for presenting navigation findings to diverse stakeholders.
• U.S. Person (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident), able to work on-site in Westminster, CO.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience leading spacecraft flight operations (OD updates, trajectory monitoring, maneuver planning).
• Experience as lead or supporting navigation engineer during the development phase of a flight program.
• Familiarity with cislunar or three-body orbit regimes (e.g., NRHOs, Lagrange orbits) and associated navigation strategies.
• Experience using MONTE for OD, covariance analysis, and measurement/force model configuration.
• Understanding of timing and clock errors, error sources, and tracking network constraints on navigation performance.
• Experience contributing to navigation-related proposals or IRAD (e.g., technical sections, estimates, prototype estimators).
• Active or prior security clearance a plus.

 Compensation and Benefits:

• Base Salary Range – $115,500 - $148,400 based on role, employee experience, and location
• Signing bonus
• Quarterly Performance bonuses
• Company provided health insurance and 401K plan upon eligibility  
• Fully stocked breakroom with free snacks, drinks, and grab-and-go options
• Relocation Assistance

Eligibility Requirements

• This is an IMMEDIATE hiring need. 
• Applicants must be a US Person (citizen or Green Card Holder/permanent resident, or protected individual)
• Ability to work in the Westminster, CO office 5 days/week during core business hours

About the company: 

Advanced Space exists to enable the sustainable exploration, development, and settlement of space through software and services that leverage unique subject matter expertise. The company is actively supporting mission and cutting-edge capabilities spanning commercial, civil, and national security customers. Our core business is focused on three areas: (1) mission enabling services, (2) technology solutions and (3) mission solutions. Through its mission enabling services, Advanced Space provides mission and flight optimization, mission design, mission systems engineering. With its technology solutions Advanced Space provides its customers with trusted AI/ML/autonomy expertise, flight-demonstrated applications, and analysis at scale. Advanced Space offers Mission Solutions with unique turn-key missions, data and capabilities purchases and demonstrated cislunar and Martian success. Advanced Space is mission focused as the owner and operator of CAPSTONE™ for NASA and Prime contractor for Oracle for AFRL. 

These competencies are leveraged by a dynamic, flexible, and agile team with cross domain knowledge. We have a small but growing team that works collaboratively across projects. We provide flexibility, and an opportunity for passionate employees to contribute directly to meaningful projects. Trusted to take on the challenge, the team at Advanced Space is Delivering Innovation to Orbit™ to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. 

Advanced Space, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Advanced Space, LLC recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.