Orbit Fab's mission is to create the foundational infrastructure that will fuel a bustling in-space economy, capable of sustaining permanent jobs in space.
Today, satellites cannot be refueled, which severely constrains their mobility and inhibits the development of economic activities in space.
Orbit Fab breaks the single-use paradigm, pioneering our Gas Stations in Space™ refueling infrastructure and RAFTI™ technology to deliver propellant in space, enabling lower-cost satellite construction, increased maneuverability, precise control, and extended lifespans. The possibilities are unprecedented, opening the doors to unimagined operational strategies and business models.
Since our establishment in 2018, we have already achieved the successful launch of three tankers to space. With offices in both the US and UK, we are working in close collaboration with partners and customers across the space industry. Orbit Fab is rapidly ramping up capabilities and requires exceptional talent to tackle important challenges. Our roles offer wide ranging opportunities to have a demonstrable impact and enable a bustling in space economy.
ROLE PURPOSE
As a Mission Concept and Analysis Engineer at Orbit Fab, you would be responsible for orbit determination and GNC/AOCS system development, simulation and mathematical modelling, and performance analysis to understand and solve the challenges associated with refuelling spacecraft in orbit. A large part of this will be to ensure compliance with existing and emerging rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD) operations and systems. The role will also cover aspects of early phase mission and trajectory design to inform spacecraft system design, which includes establishing and analysing mission concepts in the UMPIRE analysis tool, as well as contributing to the development of the tool.
This position is open to multiple levels of experience and exact roles/responsibilities will be tailored to the selected candidate. Don’t hesitate to apply if you are more or less experienced than listed! Below are the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities that we need to have as a team. You don't need all of them. Your aptitude for complex technical challenges and your practical experience solving problems and designing/building/coding stuff will trump specific qualification or tools any day! We describe here the skills, qualifications, and responsibilities that we need to have as a team. You don't need all of them. Your aptitude for complex technical challenges and your practical experience designing/building/coding will trump specific qualification or tools.
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Perform mission analysis on UK led mission architectures and spacecraft trajectories across the mission lifecycle from concept definition to flight operations.
- Lead mission design and manoeuvre planning activities from rendezvous through docking to ensuring optimal fuelling profiles.
- Lead the analysis of Orbit Fab on-orbit operations and mission architectures, including orbital mechanics and constellation design.
- Develop shuttle mission operations profiles and planning tools.
- Develop tools and analysis to support Orbit Fab’s depot and shuttle mission design.
- Analyse GNC system performance for Orbit Fab depots and shuttles.
- Provide input to operations planning for Orbit Fab spacecraft.
- Identify and resolve GNC performance-related issues and assist others in the resolution of issues, including AOCS.
- Define and manage technical direction of RPOD contractor partners.
- Develop script used in UMPIRE software.
- Concisely document the results of all verification, validation, and analysis activities.
- Support early-stage advanced mission concepts such as ISRU mission design
- Directly interact with customers, both government and commercial.
- Recommend additional subject matter expertise as required.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES
- Experience developing simulations to analyse spacecraft trajectories and GNC performance.
- Experience developing GNC algorithms and analysing system performance for spacecraft in an integrated GNC environment.
- Experience with orbital mechanics and spaceflight dynamics.
- Experience developing, verifying, and validating simulations, math models, etc.
- Experience developing algorithms for guidance, navigation and control functions.
- Experience with GMAT, STK or other applicable astrodynamics tools
- Expertise with Matlab, Python, or similar.
- Oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work in a team environment.
- BS degree and four (4) years of related engineering experience, MS degree in related field and three (3) year of related engineering experience, or PhD in related field.
NICE TO HAVE
- Expertise with Simulink toolboxes and Embedded Coder
- Experience with systems engineering and requirements management tools such as Asana, Valispace, Jira, Jama, or similar.
- Experience developing flight software.
- Familiarity or expertise with control systems including spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control system.
- Experience with computer vision, sensor fusion, and machine learning
- Experience with requirements management, decomposition, and communication
- Expertise working spacecraft or launch vehicle operations.
- MS or PhD. in Aerospace Engineering with a focus on GN&C, flight controls, orbital mechanics.
- Familiarity with Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking flight operations and procedures.
- Direct experience with LINUX, C, etc.
SALARY
The estimated salary range for this position is £45,000-£65,000, depending on experience.
Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalized people tend to only apply when they meet 100% of the qualifications. At Orbit Fab, we value respectful debate and people who aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions. We strongly encourage you to apply if you feel you would succeed in the role above.
LOCATION AND BENEFITS
The UK Orbit Fab office is based at Harwell Campus, the UK’s preeminent gateway to the space industry, and only a short drive from Oxford with convenient access to London.
We offer a range of benefits that can be discussed during the interview process.
ELIGIBILITY
Candidate must have right to work in the UK.
Orbit Fab Inc does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
