Orbital Analyst (OA) Instructor

Position Overview

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and orbital analysis lessons, building structured training materials that take new military and contractor analysts from fundamentals to mission-ready proficiency.
• Instruct new and junior OAs in the mission systems, tools, and toolkits used to conduct orbital analysis, and teach the processes to coordinate and integrate relevant information and findings across multiple functional areas to deliver space analysis products and analytics.
• Teach analysts how to apply orbital mechanics to real-world operational problems, including orbit determination, tracking, and prediction using established mathematical models and algorithms.
• Evaluate trainee progress, support certification against mission task standards, and provide supplemental and recurring instruction aligned to evolving mission needs.

• Analyze and interpret orbital data obtained from ground- and space-based sensors and owner/operator ephemeris sources, and demonstrate that analysis as a model for analysts under instruction.
• Apply a proficient understanding of space surveillance sensors, networks, and observation data, including their capabilities and limitations, and convey that understanding to the analysts you train.
• Collaborate with mid-level and senior orbital analysts to track potential collision risks and other threats to national space assets.

• Support the operators executing the NSDC Protect and Defend mission, applying experienced analytical judgment to characterization and threat-assessment tasks.
• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of engineers, analysts, and team leads, and coordinate with Operations and Weapons and Tactics to build and deliver training in support of new, ongoing, and non-standard operations.
• Help document and refine mission processes and procedures, ensuring lessons learned are captured and reflected in updated training.

• Complete required training pipelines and sustain currency on the tasks needed for steady-state and surge operations.
• Grow the instructional program and your own technical depth across SDA and national-security space mission areas, with potential to broaden into conjunction assessment, proximity operations, research projects, and other advanced technical tasks as the mission evolves.

Minimum Requirements

• US Citizenship required
• Security Clearance: Active TS/SCI required; must be willing and eligible to obtain and maintain CI polygraph access as required by the customer.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Astrodynamics, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field. Four additional years of relevant work experience may substitute for the degree (i.e., a Bachelor's degree plus 4 years of experience, or 8 years of experience in total).
• Experience:
  • Four or more years of experience in Space Situational Awareness, satellite catalog maintenance, orbital analysis, or collision avoidance in a cleared operational environment.
  • Demonstrated proficiency in orbit determination and orbital mechanics, with a proven ability to apply core concepts to real-world operational problems.
  • Solid working knowledge of space surveillance and tracking systems, such as radar and optical sensors, including their capabilities and limitations.
  • Prior instruction, training, mentorship, or on-the-job qualification experience, with the ability to develop and deliver technical lessons to analysts at varying levels of experience.
  • Basic proficiency in a scripting language such as Python, Perl, or shell, sufficient to support and demonstrate routine data processing and analysis tasks.
  • Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills and proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, & PowerPoint).

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree in Astrodynamics, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field, with 6 or more years of relevant experience.
• Experience:
  • Current CI polygraph and prior Special Access Program (SAP) access.
  • Prior experience supporting USSPACECOM, NSDC, or a national-security space mission.
  • Formal instructor certification or documented experience building training curricula and evaluating trainee progress against task standards.
  • Familiarity with conjunction assessment concepts, including probability of collision, covariance, and screening methodologies.
  • Familiarity with Space Force's Astrodynamics Support Workstation (ASW) or similar astrodynamics mission software.
  • Familiarity with Python numerical libraries such as NumPy, Pandas, Matplotlib, and SciPy.
  • Familiarity with Linux-based operating systems, particularly Red Hat or SUSE.
  • Understanding of space object tracking sensors and networks, including proximity operations and maneuver detection.
  • Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills and an interest in mentoring and developing other analysts.

Working Relationships

• Reports to: Schriever SFB Site Leadership Team (Operations Lead and Administrative Lead)
• Collaborates with: Site orbital analysts, engineers, and team leads; Operations and Weapons and Tactics staff
• Customer Interface: NSDC mission operators and government technical leadership, and Prime program personnel, as delegated

Schedule and Environment

• On-site position in a secured classified facility at Schriever Space Force Base, CO, supporting the National Space Defense Center.
• This is not a 24/7 crew position; work is primarily during standard business hours. Occasional crew shifts may be required to maintain 24/7 operational proficiency, and crew work may also be required in support of initial training and certification. Occasional surge support for high-interest events may also be required.

About Omitron

Compensation and Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• HSA or FSA accounts
• Company-paid Short-Term/Long-Term Disability and AD&D insurance
• Paid Federal Holidays
• Paid Vacation and Sick Leave
• Parental Leave
• 401(k) with company match
• Supplemental insurance options (AFLAC, Voluntary Life)
• Professional Development Reimbursement