{"id":1557828,"url":"https://alion.io/job/foundational-orbit-determination-engineer-astrodynamicist","title":"Orbit Determination Engineer / Astrodynamicist","company":{"id":173518,"name":"Foundational","domain":"foundational.io","url":"https://alion.io/company/foundational","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Ashby","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":null,"employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["London, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":44000,"max_usd":103000,"period":"year","method":"role_country_seniority_unknown","sample_n":306},"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"GMAT","optional":false},{"name":"Java","optional":false},{"name":"Orekit","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-30T19:39:33Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-30","last_verified_at":"2026-10-01T12:52:13Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":0,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":0},"description":"Orbit Determination Engineer / Astrodynamicist\nThis is a future role. We're building a shortlist now and will contact you when it opens.\nAbout us\nFoundational is building the most precise picture of Earth and orbit, using lasers fired from the ground. We call it ground truth for orbit.\nWe design and run low-cost, autonomous satellite laser ranging stations. They measure the distance to satellites with extreme precision, day and night. Our data platform turns those measurements into tracking data and orbit products for satellite operators, space agencies and governments. We also build our own flight-proven laser retroreflector arrays, so any satellite can be tracked.\nOur station network is expanding across Europe, South America, Africa and Australia. The data supports resilient navigation, Earth observation and the safe, sustainable use of space.\nWe're a small, fast-moving team of engineers, scientists and operators in London. We're backed by venture investors and supported by ESA, the UK Space Agency, Innovate UK and the European Innovation Council.\nPosition Overview\nLondon · Full time · On-site\nYou'll build orbit determination products from our laser ranging data. They're a core part of what we offer customers, and you'll shape them from the start.\nWhat you'll do\nDevelop and run precise orbit determination using laser ranging and other tracking data\n\nModel forces and measurements: gravity, drag, solar radiation pressure, relativity, and station and spacecraft offsets\n\nBuild orbit prediction and ephemeris products, both for customers and for pointing our own stations\n\nValidate against independent orbits, and quantify uncertainty\n\nTurn algorithms into robust, tested software on our data platform\n\nWork with customers on how they use orbit products\n\nWhat you'll bring\nAn MSc or PhD (or equivalent experience) in astrodynamics, aerospace engineering or physics\n\nHands-on orbit determination (batch least squares, Kalman filtering) using real tracking data\n\nExperience with Orekit, GMAT, GEODYN, ODTK or your own tools\n\nStrong Python, C++ or Java\n\nA solid grasp of time systems and reference frames\n\nNice to have\nSLR, GNSS or DORIS processing\n\nSpace situational awareness or conjunction assessment\n\nCovariance realism\n\nFlight dynamics operations\n\nWhat We Offer\nA high-impact role with real ownership at an early-stage, venture-backed spacetech company\n\nEMI share options (UK employees)\n\n25 Days Annual Leave + Bank Holidays\n\nEnhanced Parental Leave\n\nCycle to work schemes\n\nWork alongside engineers and scientists across optics, lasers, software and astrodynamics\n\nOffices in central London, with snacks, tea, coffee and regular socials\n\nWe actively champion underrepresented groups and seek to bridge gaps in our workforce. If you're excited by the role but don't match every point, or you’re seeking a part time role, please apply anyway and add a note into your application. Building the best team is our priority.","description_format":"text","description_chars":2941,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"phd","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Annual leave","Parental leave","Stock options"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Data Governance & Catalogs","Data Quality & Observability"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-01T02:49:55Z"}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":0,"expected_fill_days":36,"reasons":["conf:2","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-01T05:45:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/foundational-orbit-determination-engineer-astrodynamicist","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/foundational-orbit-determination-engineer-astrodynamicist.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-01T16:56:46Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":4999,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z"}}}