The posting, in Space Kinetic's own words
archived Nov 15, 2026A New Paradigm For Space Operations.
Who We Are:
Space Kinetic is a dual use space technology startup building a completely new architecture for space operations – one that brings the advantages of proliferated drone technology (low-cost, operationally flexible, attainable, distributed) to space missions while reducing the ecosystem's reliance on consumable fuel. In a world where many companies are focused on incrementally improving the status quo, we are focused on creating something entirely different – an architecture underpinned by new first principles to meet the opportunities and challenges of the third space age head-on. Our goal is to move away from one-to-one space architectures – where each satellite in a constellation has one (or a small # of) primary payloads attached to the bus -- and unlock a ‘one-to-many’ system, where each satellite has a large number of payloads which can be deployed from their host spacecraft at high velocities without firing a thruster. This is not a role for someone looking for a traditional 40-hour work week. Space Kinetic is building ambitious, first-of-its-kind technology, and that requires urgency, ownership, and a high level of commitment to changing the foundational assumptions for everything we do in space.
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What You’ll Do:
As an Astrodynamicist and Mission Analysis Engineer on the GNC Team, you will be the Responsible Engineering Authority (REA) for all modeling, simulation, and analysis for a program, study, or proposal. Mission Analysis Engineers don't just execute on ideas - they innovate creative solutions and novel designs to improve our products and solidify Space Kinetic as an industry leader. You will have full access to provide proof to concept success iteration with the impact of GNC principles. You will develop methods to simulate mission scenarios and assess end-to-end constellation capabilities; design and deploy image processing, inertial tracking, state estimation, and optimal control algorithms for sensor systems; and provide tools and modeling platforms for validating system performance during on-orbit mission operations.
Job Responsibilities:
Build and maintain simulations for large satellite constellations to assess effectiveness against mission requirements Create models for space vehicle payloads to use in system trades and performance predictions Develop novel algorithms, models, and data processing schemes for MW/MT, RPO, and SDA systems Architect the Concepts of Operation (CONOPS)/Design Reference Mission (DRM) and their associated simulations Collaborate with software and firmware teams to develop platforms for simulation deployment (e.g. software/hardware-in-the-loop) Develop and validate flight dynamics software partnering with mission operations, spacecraft subsystems, and software engineering teams to support mission design, on-orbit operations, and contract phases Design and analyze constellation architectures, including orbital regimes, plane spacing, phasing strategies, and deployment concepts Own mission and system level analysis ensuring space vehicle designs meet or exceed requirements across subsystems Define and maintain high-fidelity simulation environments to support development of mission architecture and day in the life analysis for a variety of different missions Lead development of mission concept of operations Identify, create, and use available tools to model and analyze a given system’s performance and capability in relation to mission objectives Perform trade studies for various mission designs to meet contact coverage, lifetime, regulatory requirements, and validate mission feasibility Serve as the astrodynamics/mission analysis technical interface to systems engineering, flight software, avionics, mechanical, thermal, manufacturing, and mission operations teams to ensure mission objectives are understood and supported by product design Prepare for and present at internal and customer design reviews as a flight dynamics subject matter expert Support spacecraft mission operations, and anomaly investigation using telemetry and flight data during planning and execution phases Provide technical direction and mentorship to junior engineers and contribute to the development of team processes, standards, and best practices.