Space Situational Awareness Engineer

Space Situational Awareness Engineer

Location: Spain (Hybrid) - Also open to Germany office

Contract: Full-time | Permanent

Salary: From €50k

Work on challenges shaping the future of space.

Ready to take your engineering expertise beyond the ordinary?

We're working with an ambitious NewSpace technology business developing solutions to make space operations safer and more sustainable.

As a Space Situational Awareness Engineer, you'll work on complex problems involving orbital mechanics, astrodynamics and advanced algorithms, helping satellite operators detect, predict and manage risks in an increasingly congested space environment.

You'll join a talented, multidisciplinary team where technical curiosity is encouraged, your ideas can influence real engineering solutions, and your work contributes to something bigger than the next project.

What could your next career move offer you?

• Technical challenge: Work on complex engineering problems involving real orbital data, physics and advanced algorithms.
• Ownership and recognition: Have a genuine influence on technical solutions, with the freedom to contribute ideas and take responsibility.
• Professional development: Access a dedicated learning and development budget to continue growing your expertise.
• Collaborative culture: Work alongside experienced aerospace engineers, data scientists and software developers.
• Meaningful impact: Contribute to technologies protecting satellites and supporting the long-term sustainability of space.
• Work-life balance: Enjoy flexible core hours, hybrid working and 30 days of annual leave.
• Additional benefits: Permanent employment, subsidised pension, Hansefit membership, BahnCard and extended workation opportunities.

The opportunity

You'll play an important role in developing and optimising the algorithms behind advanced space situational awareness technologies.

Working across engineering, data science and software development, your responsibilities will include:

• Developing algorithms for orbit propagation, orbit determination (OD), sensor fusion, covariance modelling and uncertainty quantification.
• Integrating third-party sensor data sources into an advanced SSA platform.
• Combining data from multiple sources to create accurate representations of the space debris environment.
• Conducting validation and verification (V&V) campaigns to assess and improve algorithm performance.
• Working with software engineers to turn research concepts and prototypes into scalable, production-ready solutions.

What we're looking for

• Master's degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Space Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics or a related discipline. Relevant professional SSA/SST experience may also be considered.
• 5+ years of relevant experience, although exceptional candidates with 3+ years may be considered.
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of astrodynamics, orbital mechanics and flight dynamics.
• Scientific programming experience using Python, Java or Fortran (90+).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Comfortable working in a collaborative, research-driven engineering environment.
• Currently based in Germany or willing to relocate.
• Valid authorisation to work in Germany/the EU.

Desirable experience:

• Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) or Space Situational Awareness (SSA) systems.
• Sensor tasking, catalogue maintenance or orbital data processing.
• Working with space agencies, satellite operators or commercial space organisations.
• Space policy, regulatory and compliance frameworks.
• AI/ML applications in anomaly detection, pattern recognition or orbit prediction.

Ready for your next challenge?

If you're passionate about orbital mechanics, enjoy solving complex technical problems and want your expertise to contribute to something meaningful, this could be an excellent next step in your career.

Interested in finding out more? Get in touch directly.

Dylan.Cordukes@newspacetechnical.com