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Orbit Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Reflect Orbital

Orbit Operations Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$110K - $185K/yr

About the Role As an Orbit Operations Engineer, you'll own both the day-to-day operation of our spacecraft and the development of the operational infrastructure that makes it all work. This is a high ...

SpaceX

GNC Engineer, Orbit Control (Starlink)

Redmond, WA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

GNC ENGINEER, ORBIT CONTOL (STARLINK) At SpaceX we're leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world's most advanced broadband internet system serving ...

SpaceX

GNC Engineer, Orbit Control (Starlink)

Redmond, WA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

GNC ENGINEER, ORBIT CONTOL (STARLINK) At SpaceX we're leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world's most advanced broadband internet system serving ...

SpaceX

GNC Engineer, Orbit Control (Starlink)

Redmond, WA · On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

GNC ENGINEER, ORBIT CONTOL (STARLINK) At SpaceX we're leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world's most advanced broadband internet system serving ...

Firefly Aerospace

WI · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

Flight Dynamics Engineer III (Orbit Determination), Elytra Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems ...

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Orbit Engineer information

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$36.5K

$107.3K

$137.5K

How much do orbit engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for orbit engineer in the United States is $107,282.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,500.00 and $136,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Orbit Engineer vs Satellite Systems Engineer?

AspectOrbit EngineerSatellite Systems Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering; often requires experience in orbital mechanicsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical, Aerospace, or Systems Engineering; certifications in satellite design are common
Work EnvironmentDesigning and analyzing orbital trajectories, working with mission planning teamsDeveloping satellite hardware/software, testing, and integration
Industry UsagePrimarily in aerospace agencies, satellite operators, and space mission companiesSatellite manufacturing firms, aerospace companies, and defense contractors

Orbit Engineers focus on orbital mechanics, trajectory analysis, and mission planning, while Satellite Systems Engineers work on satellite hardware, software, and system integration. Both roles are essential in satellite missions but differ in their core responsibilities and expertise areas.

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Orbit Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Orbit Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,282 per year, or $51.6 per hour.

Orbit Operations Engineer

Reflect Orbital

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

$110K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

At Reflect, you will be expected to move fast, have a lot of ownership and, most importantly, be able to effect change. If this excites you, we are interested in hearing about your best work and accomplishments across any domain and from any points in your life.
About the Role
As an Orbit Operations Engineer, you'll own both the day-to-day operation of our spacecraft and the development of the operational infrastructure that makes it all work. This is a high-ownership role on a small, collaborative mission operations team. You won't just execute procedures, you'll write them, improve them, and help define how we operate as a company.
You'll monitor spacecraft health, investigate anomalies, plan maneuvers, and coordinate ground station passes. You'll also build and refine the tools, scripts, and processes that keep our future fleet running smoothly. As our constellation grows, you'll help shape operational strategies, maintain and update mission requirements, and drive continuous improvement across our satellite and ground segment.
Responsibilities
  • Monitor real-time telemetry and spacecraft subsystem health
  • Triage and investigate on-orbit anomalies end-to-end and document findings and lessons learned to improve fleet reliability
  • Perform long-term telemetry trending and performance analysis to detect subsystem degradation, refine alarm limits, and inform operational and design decisions
  • Plan and execute spacecraft maneuvers, station-keeping, and orbital adjustments
  • Coordinate ground station passes and scheduling
  • Support LEOP, bus and payload commissioning, and orbit-raising campaigns for new satellites, executing procedures and contributing to in-orbit test and checkout
  • Develop, validate, and maintain operational procedures and command sequences
  • Build automation for telemetry monitoring and alerting, pass scheduling, routine commanding, and anomaly detection and response
  • Collaborate with spacecraft engineering teams to define CONOPS, fault management, and spacecraft procedures
  • Support deployment and testing of ground software updates and infrastructure changes
  • Validate procedures, command sequences, and automation against simulation and hardware-in-the-loop environments prior to on-orbit execution
  • Define, validate, and maintain onboard FDIR and fault management responses
  • Plan and execute operational readiness activities, including simulations and dress rehearsals
  • Participate in 24/7 rotating shift work to meet mission needs

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related STEM field
  • 3+ years of experience in satellite mission operations or a related field
  • Solid understanding of spacecraft systems and subsystem interactions
  • Proficiency with mission control software (e.g. OpenC3 COSMOS, Kratos EPOCH, L3Harris InControl, or similar)
  • Strong programming and scripting skills (Python, C++ preferred)
  • Familiarity with Linux environments and command-line tools
  • Experience with DevOps tools and practices (Git, Docker, CI/CD)
  • Familiarity with RF systems, ground station operations, or link budgets
  • Experience developing operational requirements or CONOPS documentation
  • Strong troubleshooting skills, with experience using data analysis to diagnose complex systems
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills
  • Sound judgment and composure in real-time, high-pressure operational environments
  • Experience operating multi-satellite constellations or fleets is a plus

Even if you don't meet 100% of the above qualifications, we are likely still interested in hearing from you. Hiring exceptional individuals is our #1 priority, and we believe that exceptional people often have highly unusual backgrounds.
We are also interested in carving out unique roles for unconventional people that we are excited about working with.
Benefits
Reflect Orbital's success will hinge on our team, which is why our compensation and benefits plan is designed to reward our employees and support their families as generously as we're able.
  • Broad choice of medical/dental/vision coverage, Reflect covers 100% of each base-policy
  • Access to HSA, FSA, and 401K
  • Unlimited paid time off, two-weeks per year encouraged
  • Healthy lunches provided daily
Equal Opportunity
Reflect Orbital is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Reflect Orbital 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.
More about Reflect Orbital:
Learn more about our team here.

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