Astrodynamics Lead Engineer

Astrodynamics Lead Engineer - LEO Data Relay Constellation

Palo Alto, CA

Lumira Search is partnering with an early-stage NewSpace company building a next-generation data relay constellation in low Earth orbit. Using a hybrid RF-optical inter-satellite link (ISL) architecture, they enable efficient data aggregation and relay to support scalable, resilient space infrastructure across commercial, federal, and defense applications.

The Role

As the company’s orbital authority, you’ll design the constellation, verify RAAN and phasing, and run the coverage analysis that shows which architectures meet customer SLAs. You’ll build the propulsion and Δv budgets for deployment, station-keeping, collision avoidance, and de-orbit, starting with an upcoming paired demonstration satellite mission and scaling to the full LEO relay constellation.

You’ll work directly with the bus, propulsion, and optical/RF link teams, turning orbital analysis into hardware and mission requirements. The role is hands-on end to end: modeling, trade studies, maneuver planning, and on-orbit operations.

What You’ll Do

• Design and own the constellation architecture: plane count, altitude, inclination, LTAN, and intra- and inter-plane phasing, traded against coverage, launch cost, and ISL geometry.
• Run SLA-grade coverage analysis on link-closing access, including handover continuity, window durations, gap statistics, and percent-time-covered for specific target orbits.
• Close coverage and access analysis against real RF link budgets with the RF team, computing access windows only where range, elevation, off-boresight angle, Doppler, and slant-path losses support the required data rate and margin.
• Model ISL relative geometry between constellation members and customer spacecraft (range, angular constraints, handover timing), iterating with the RF and optical teams so orbit design and link design converge.
• Develop Δv and propellant budgets for drag makeup across the solar cycle, station-keeping, collision avoidance, and end-of-life disposal, providing thruster and propellant sizing inputs to the bus team.
• Build and maintain the orbit determination, ephemeris, and maneuver-planning pipeline, and own conjunction screening and CDM response through Space-Track and commercial SSA providers.
• Provide orbital parameters and deorbit analysis for commercial FCC and ITU filings.

What You’ll Bring

• Direct, hands-on experience with LEO mission or constellation design (orbit selection, SSO design, and station-keeping) for flown or flight-bound spacecraft.
• 4+ years in applied astrodynamics, mission design, or flight dynamics.
• BS/MS/PhD in aerospace engineering, astrodynamics, or physics, or equivalent demonstrated depth.
• Proficiency with at least one of GMAT, STK/ODTK, FreeFlyer, Orekit, Tudat, or Basilisk, plus strong Python.
• Solid perturbation modeling: J2 and higher-order gravity, atmospheric drag (NRLMSISE-00, JB2008), and SRP.
• The judgment to act as the orbital authority and be accountable for your technical calls.

Nice to Have

• Constellation, formation-flying, or relative-motion experience.
• Flight dynamics operations experience, including maneuver execution, OD, and conjunction response.
• Experience planning electric or cold-gas propulsion maneuvers.

What’s On Offer

• Up to $190,000 base salary
• Meaningful early-stage equity
• End-to-end ownership of orbital design for an entire constellation
• Medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and relocation assistance

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to technology subject to U.S. export regulations, including ITAR. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Apply here or message me directly for a confidential conversation.