Orbital Analyst / Principal Orbital Analyst (TS/SCI & Polygraph) - Schriever Space Force Base

Embark on a career putting innovative, reliable, and agile products and ideas into orbit, and beyond. Northrop Grumman has opportunities waiting for you that play a vital role in human space exploration, national defense, and scientific discovery, supporting multiple programs across the universe. With us, you’ll discover a culture of curiosity and collaboration that will have you Defining Possible from the day you start. Our space work connects and protects millions of people on earth every day, now and for the future. Explore your future and launch your career today.

The Payload and Ground Systems organization within the Northrop Grumman Space Systems pushes the boundaries of innovation, redefines engineering capabilities, and drives advances in various sciences. Our team is chartered with providing the skills, innovative technologies to develop, design, produce and sustain optimized product lines across the sector while providing a decisive advantage to the warfighter. Come be a part of our mission.

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking an Orbit Analyst (OA) to be a member of the OA team on the NRO Operations and Launch Support (NOALS) contract at Schriever AFB, CO. The OA will be responsible for astrodynamics analytical support, system problem/anomaly resolution support, data trending, operational product updates, and performance analysis. The team also provides program expertise on engineering subsystems and maintains a baseline of operational products for a complex system. The candidate will have an active role in shaping the basis of how to execute planning and operations. The candidate should be a self-starter who has a passion for space and wants to be part of a team who shares that passion.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Perform orbit analysis, orbital determination and analysis functions.

• Generate and provide daily orbital data to execute numerous satellite contacts.

• Generate and provide daily orbit data to external users.

• Perform orbital engineering tasks required to support launch operations including sensor coverage and telemetry collection planning using link margin analysis and other tools, predicting trajectory and estimating the final orbit.

• Participate in program to customer interface requirements definition to ensure program and customer mission success.

• Interface with external customers to maintain tracking station location, obscura, and Transmit Inhibit Zone data.

• Participate in testing efforts of newly upgraded tracking stations.

• Participate in customer education of basic astrodynamics.

• Support and perform future OA software and hardware upgrades leading to the automation of many of the OA functions supporting both daily OA activities and OA launch support activities.

• Providing rotating 24x7 on-call support to lead the resolution of system issues and anomalies. 

These positions can be staffed at a level 2 or 3 based on the basic qualifications below.

Basic Qualifications:

• Active TS/SCI Security Clearance and polygraph required to start.

• Level 2: BS degree and 2 years’ experience, MS degree and 0 years’ experience, or PhD and 0 years’ experience.  STEM degree required.

• Level 3: BS degree and 5 years’ experience, a MS degree and 3 years’ experience, or a PhD and 0 years’ experience. STEM degree required.

• Knowledge of orbital mechanics

• Good organizational skills and the ability to handle multi-tasking

• Ability to identify and achieve multiple milestones spread across various calendars and schedules

• Ability to create and follow standard processes and clearly document results

• Strong troubleshooting and problem solving skills, demonstrated by frequent and successful application of technical standards, theories, concepts, and techniques

• Ability to interface effectively with users, customers, management, and other engineering personnel

• Ability to occasionally work odd and/or extended hours covering a 24/7 period, particularly during launch operations

• Ability to work rotating on-call shifts

• Be able to maintain composure in stressful situations

Preferred Qualifications:

• Possess strong interpersonal and communications skills

• Background in one or more of the following technical disciplines: orbital propagation and perturbations, orbit estimation, orbital maneuvers, modeling and simulation, and analysis

• Experience in modeling, simulation and analysis in orbital maneuvers and orbit estimation

• Knowledge and experience with STK, ODTK, Matlab and other COTS products

• Ability to evaluate established and emerging technologies for applicability to architectural initiatives

• Experience in executing the project life cycle of requirements analysis, design, hardware and/or software development, integration, test, and sustainment

• Experience in evaluating viability of vendor and government-provided HW/SW as part of technology/product trade studies

• Ability to develop and maintain operational procedures, products and training materials

• Knowledge of communications (network and RF) topologies, including SGLS, K and X band design

• Knowledge and experience with satellite command & control theories and methodologies

#COSpace

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Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO/AA and Pay Transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.