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Senior Navigation Engineer
Job Location:
Job Location:
Boulder, CO - USA
Yearly Salary:
USD 145000 - 175000
Yearly Salary:
Posted:
4 October 2026 (2 days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
1 January 2027
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
As a Senior Navigation Engineer at Impulse Space you will own the state estimation and orbit determination systems that let our vehicles know where they are and where theyre going across all phases of development and operation while working closely with a fast-paced agile team. You will design implement and validate the navigation filters and sensor-fusion techniques that fly our spacecraft and orbital transfer vehicles in LEO GEO and cislunar space as well as perform astrodynamic analyses required for mission success.
Responsibilities
- Design develop and tune navigation and estimation algorithms (EKF/UKF batch/sequential estimators) for spacecraft and high-ΔV orbital transfer vehicles.
- Perform spacecraft navigation analyses: orbit determination attitude determination astrodynamic trajectories covariance analysis and navigation error budgets.
- Develop and validate sensor models and measurement models (IMU GNSS/GPS star tracker optical/relative navigation radiometric).
- Implement navigation algorithms in flight code (C) and support SIL/HIL integration and test.
- Run Monte Carlo analysis to characterize navigation performance under dispersed and off-nominal conditions.
- Generate navigation verification data across Impulses suite of missions.
- Support navigation operations: real-time OD console support and anomaly response during critical mission phases.
- Communicate navigation design needs intent performance trades and risk to the broader engineering team.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in engineering science or related for science
- 5 years of demonstrated experience in spacecraft navigation orbit determination or estimation
- Proficiency in Matlab and C
- Demonstrated experience designing and implementing Kalman filters for rocket or space applications
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Demonstrated experience with navigation/astrodynamics tools (FreeFlyer GMAT STK etc.)
- Optical and/or relative navigation experience
- Demonstrated experience in a startup or agile development environment
Additional Information:
Compensation bands are determined by role level location and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills education experience technical capabilities and internal addition to base salary for full-time hires you may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and access to medical vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.
Impulse Spaces spacecraft manufacturing business is subject to U.S. export regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This position requires applicants to be either U.S. Persons (i.e. U.S. citizen U.S. national lawful permanent U.S. resident (green card holder) an individual granted asylum in the U.S. or an individual admitted in U.S. refugee status) or persons eligible to obtain an export license from the U.S. Departments of State Commerce or other applicable U.S. government agencies. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Impulse Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Impulse Space is governed on the basis of merit competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race color religion gender national origin/ethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity marital status mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Required Experience:
Senior IC
