Precise Orbit Determination Engineer

Logos Space is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system purpose-built to serve the connectivity needs of the commercial enterprise users and government users. We will help fill an important gap in the market, providing resilient, high-performance satellite-based connectivity services to enterprise and government customers worldwide. Business customers have contracts with agreed-upon performance standards for their broadband, and Logos will build these capabilities into the system from the beginning. Speed and reliability are the foundation of the system. Logos is designed to extend cloud and data center network connectivity anywhere in the world to fixed, seaborne, and airborne terminals.

Logos is led by a team of highly experienced engineers with proven track records in the networking and satellite industries.

Position Summary

As a Precise Orbit Determination Engineer, you will lead the development of architecture and software for the ground-based orbit estimation service within Logos Space Service’s satellite network. You will be responsible for processing diverse tracking data—including GNSS observations and ground station ranges — to precisely reconstruct and predict satellite ephemerides. Your work enables smooth scheduling of operations and maintenance across Logos Space Service’s constellations.

Responsibilities

• Estimation Architecture: Design and maintain the ground-based Orbit Determination (OD) pipeline using Extended Kalman Filtering (EKF), Least Squares, and/or similar batch estimation frameworks
• High-Fidelity Modeling: Implement advanced force models (high-degree gravity fields, solar radiation pressure, atmospheric drag, and third-body perturbations) to achieve high prediction accuracy. Scope also includes clock parameter estimation
• Data Fusion: Develop algorithms to ingest and fuse GPS/GNSS and similar PNT source telemetry with ground-based ranging data, to produce robust and precise satellite ephemeris estimates
• Calibration & Validation: Conduct regular cross-calibration analyses between ground-truth POD and onboard navigation systems to ensure fleet-wide consistency.
  
  

Qualifications

• Education: MS or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Geomatics, or Physics with a specialization in Estimation Theory or Astrodynamics.
• Experience: 5 years of experience in orbit determination for LEO satellites.
• Deep expertise in Kalman Filtering, weighted least squares, and statistical analysis.
• Knowledge of Reference Frames (ITRF, J2000) and time systems (UTC, TAI time).
• Working knowledge of onboard, real-time OD algorithms used in GN&C systems
• Experience automating large-scale batch POD processing for constellations.
• Software Engineering: Proficiency in C or Python for building high-performance numerical estimation engines.
• Tools: Familiarity with POD techniques such as DGPS and RTK and experience with tools such as STK/ODTK, FreeFlyer, OreKit, etc.

Logos Space Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering creativity, curiosity and diverse perspectives among employees. We seek to create an environment where everyone can reach their full potential and drive outstanding results. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of one's employment, including hiring, transfer, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits, and termination. Offers will be contingent on the candidate's ability to access export-controlled information under U.S. law.

Compensation Range: $150K - $200K