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Orbit Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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 ...

KBR, Inc.

Orbit Analyst

Colorado Springs, CO · On-site

$74K - $138K/yr

KBR's work is at the forefront of engineering, logistics, operations, science, program management, mission IT and cybersecurity solutions. * Collaborative Environment: Be part of a dynamic team that ...

KBR

Orbit Analyst

Colorado Springs, CO · On-site

$74K - $138K/yr

KBR's work is at the forefront of engineering, logistics, operations, science, program management, mission IT and cybersecurity solutions. * Collaborative Environment: Be part of a dynamic team that ...

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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 Jul 15, 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.

More about Orbit Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Orbit Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Orbit Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Orbit Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Orbit Engineer jobs include:
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Orbit Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Orbit Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,282 per year, or $51.6 per hour.
GNC Engineer, Orbit Determination/Stargaze (Starlink)

GNC Engineer, Orbit Determination/Stargaze (Starlink)

SpaceX

Redmond, WA • On-site

$145K - $175K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 14 days ago

SpaceX rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 146 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 61 rated aerospace companies

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
GNC ENGINEER, ORBIT DETERMINATION/STARGAZE (STARLINK)
Reliable knowledge of object orbits and accurate predictions are paramount in today's orbital environment, as they are essential to preventing collisions, ensuring mission success, and protecting critical space infrastructure. As the number of satellites and debris proliferates, advanced orbit determination capabilities enable proactive risk mitigation, fostering a sustainable space domain for exploration, communication, and scientific advancement. SpaceX is seeking talented engineers with expertise in orbit determination and object tracking to enhance our space surveillance efforts, leveraging optical or radar observations to maintain a precise catalog of space objects and support collision avoidance.
This role directly contributes to the safety of the Starlink constellation, which is revolutionizing global connectivity by delivering high-speed internet to underserved regions, bridging digital divides, and enabling transformative applications in education, healthcare, and disaster response worldwide. Join us to tackle the challenges of space traffic management and drive innovations that make space safer and more accessible for humanity.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Maintain, update, and operate orbit determination tools and pipelines to support collision avoidance and space safety operations
  • Develop and refine image processing algorithms for object detection and data association to enhance system performance
  • Operate surveillance systems and collaborate closely with collision avoidance and mission operations teams to support real-time decision-making
  • Improve overall system performance by updating orbit determination, image processing, and prediction algorithms for higher accuracy and reliability

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, computer science, or other STEM discipline
  • Experience in software development using Python or C++

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Advanced degree in aerospace engineering or a related field with a focus on orbit determination or space situational awareness
  • Expertise in sequential estimation techniques, including Kalman filtering, residual editing, filter tuning, covariance analysis, consider parameters, adaptive processes, and covariance realism
  • Strong background in orbital modeling and propagation, including high-fidelity orbit propagation, perturbations in low-Earth orbit, drag modeling, density models, and space weather parameters
  • Hands-on experience with sensors, telescopes, astrometry, photometry, and image reduction for optical observations
  • Proficiency in measurement and sensor handling, including measurement processing, measurement modeling, debiasing, sensor calibration, image processing, optical observations, and radar measurements
  • Experience with orbit determination methods, such as angles-only orbit determination and initial orbit determination
  • Proficiency in data analysis techniques, including statistical tests (e.g., chi-squared, Kolmogorov-Smirnov) and data correlation methods
  • Familiarity with space traffic management and situational awareness, including conjunction data messages (CDMs) and two-line element (TLE) sets
  • Proven ability to develop, test, and deploy algorithms for real-world space applications, with proficiency in version control systems like Git
  • Ability to solve complex problems independently in a fast-paced, innovative environment
  • Passion for space safety, satellite operations, and advancing the commercial space industry
  • Excellent communication skills for collaborating across multidisciplinary teams

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay range:
GNC Engineer, Orbital Determination/Level I: $125,000.00 - $145,000.00/per year
GNC Engineer, Orbital Determination/Level II: $145,000.00 - $175,000.00/per year
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
    Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX 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.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to

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