Astrodynamics Lead (Founding Role)

Apolink
Palo Alto
Workplace: OnsiteFull timeUSD 150,000 - 190,000 annuallyFunction: Entrepreneurship & Venture BuildingExperience: 5+ yearsSkills: ["Independent technical judgment","Trade study execution","Hands-on technical ownership"]

Own the end-to-end astrodynamics and constellation design for a backward-compatible LEO data relay, from RAAN/phasing and SLA-grade coverage analysis to propulsion and Δv budgeting. Build and maintain the orbit determination, ephemeris, and maneuver-planning pipeline, including conjunction screening and CDM response. Translate orbital analysis into hardware and mission requirements for paired demo operations and scale to the full constellation.

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FursaFursa
Apolink
Apolink
2 days ago

Astrodynamics Lead (Founding Role)

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Last checked: 6 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Own the end-to-end astrodynamics and constellation design for a backward-compatible LEO data relay, from RAAN/phasing and SLA-grade coverage analysis to propulsion and Δv budgeting. Build and maintain the orbit determination, ephemeris, and maneuver-planning pipeline, including conjunction screening and CDM response. Translate orbital analysis into hardware and mission requirements for paired demo operations and scale to the full constellation.
Location: Palo Alto
Workplace: Onsite
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Entrepreneurship & Venture Building

Key Responsibilities

  • •Design and own constellation architecture (plane count, altitude, inclination, LTAN, phasing) and trade it against coverage, launch cost, and ISL geometry.
  • •Run SLA-grade coverage analysis for link-closing access, including handover continuity, window durations, gap statistics, and percent-time-covered.
  • •Close RF link coverage/access analysis using real RF link budgets (range, elevation, off-boresight, Doppler, slant-path losses) to meet required data rate and margin.
  • •Model ISL relative geometry and handover timing between constellation members and customer spacecraft, iterating with RF and optical teams.
  • •Develop Δv and propellant budgets for drag makeup, station-keeping, collision avoidance, and end-of-life disposal; provide thruster and propellant sizing inputs.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 150,000 - 190,000 annually
Equity and Bonus:Equity
Perks:Health InsuranceDentalVision401kRelocationEquity

Key Requirements

  • •Direct hands-on experience with LEO mission or constellation design, including orbit selection, SSO design, and station-keeping.
  • •4+ years in applied astrodynamics, mission design, or flight dynamics.
  • •BS/MS/PhD in aerospace engineering, astrodynamics, or physics, or equivalent depth.
  • •Proficiency with at least one of GMAT, STK/ODTK, FreeFlyer, Orekit, Tudat, or Basilisk, and strong Python.
  • •Solid perturbation modeling (e.g., J2 and higher-order gravity, atmospheric drag, SRP) with independent technical judgment.
Experience:5+ yearsLEO missionsConstellation designFormation flyingFlight dynamicsSpace operations
Education:
Skills:Independent technical judgmentTrade study executionHands-on technical ownership
Tech Stack:GMATSTK/ODTKFreeFlyerOrekitTudatBasiliskPythonSpace-TrackNRLMSISE-00JB2008SRPCDM

Eligibility

Nationality:US National
Work Authorization:Authorization required. Sponsorship not provided.

Company Brief

Apolink
Apolink develops space-related technologies and services focused on satellite communications, mission support, and data connectivity solutions to enable reliable links between space assets and ground infrastructure for commercial and research applications.
Industry: Space Technology
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