Orbital Analyst – Department of Defence
📌 Vacancy Fact Sheet
- Reference Number: VN-0770963
- Agency: Department of Defence
- Job Title: Orbital Analyst
- Position Number: JCG/04021/26
- Classification: APS Level 5
- Closing Date: Thursday 30 July 2026
- Job Type: Full-Time, Ongoing
- Location: Bungendore NSW
- Future Merit Locations: Bungendore
- Salary: $89,841 – $96,829
- Office Arrangement: On Site (Defence is committed to supporting workplace)
About Department of Defence
SPACECOMD is a multidisciplinary workforce across Navy, Army, Air Force, Australian Public
Service, and Industry. SPACECOMD has been established to prepare space power to secure
Australia’s interests in peace and war. Its vision is to assure Australian civil and military access in
space, integrated across Government, and in concert with allies, international partners and
industry.
The Joint Force Space Component, at HQ JOC, provides space expertise into the integrated force
planning for and conduct of operations. Space is one of the five operational domains in the ADF
and its criticality is increasing, as outlined in the latest NDS. The team is involved in operations on
a daily basis and directly contributes to exercises on a regular basis.
Our Ideal Candidate
Our ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:
Perform orbit analysis, orbital determination, and analysis functions.
Generate and provide daily orbital data to support planning
Generate and provide daily orbit data to external users.
An ability to apply mathematical models and observational data to precisely calculate orbital
parameters and predicting potential close approaches, re-entries, tracking and cataloguing
space debris to help prevent dangerous collisions, and assessing the risk of collision
between various space objects.
An ability to rapidly learn COTS OA tools
Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders via reports, written
correspondence, calculations, discussions and presentations
An innovative and adaptive thinker
Assess technical and design packages including scoping, planning, reviewing and provide
recommendations for consideration.
Duties
- The Role
- Space Command (SPACECOMD) are looking for two APS 5 Orbital Analysts (OA) to join their
- Joint Force Space Component Team at HQ JOC. Orbital analysis is the study of how objects
- move in space under the influence of gravity. It’s most commonly used in space science,
- astronomy, and aerospace engineering to understand and predict the motion of satellites, planets,
- spacecraft, and other celestial bodies.
- In the military context this is used to understand the orbit, likely orbit and decay of objects in space
- as part of Space Situational Awareness (SSA).Space situational awareness (SSA) refers to
- understanding, monitoring, and characterising objects in space and the environment in which they
- operate. It involves tracking satellites and debris to assess their behaviour and predict potential
- close approaches, allowing operators to take action to avoid collisions.
- SSA also accounts for risks from fragmentation events, meteor activity, and other natural hazards
- that may impact space operations. It underpins all space safety efforts and real-time traffic
- coordination and forms a key part of Space Domain Awareness (SDA), which enables
- decision-makers to build a clear and timely picture of both current and future operating conditions
- in space.
- The orbital analyst role is a key role performing orbital determination and analysis as part of an
- integrated Space team. They provide vital input into developing the understanding of the space
- environment. The OA will monitor and calculate orbital parameters of space objects, design safe
- trajectories, collision avoidance, and support mission planning using specialized software tools,
- while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.
- The OA provides astrodynamics expertise, supporting analytical tasks, resolving system issues
- and anomalies, monitoring data trends, updating operational products, and conducting
- performance assessments.
- The successful candidate will play an active part in shaping planning and operational outcomes,
- and should be a motivated self-starter with a strong passion for space and a desire to work within
- a like-minded team Well-developed understanding of Defence’s mission and government
- decision-making, and compliance to relevant legislative frameworks and policy requirements,
- which will enable you to interpret and provide advice within the aerospace engineering function
- based on legislation, policy and procedures. You will also undertake specialist, technical research
- and analysis, conduct reviews, assessment and perform procedural or operational support work to
- achieve Defence’s outcomes.
Eligibility / Notes
- Security Clearance:
- Prior to commencement, successful applicants will be required to undergo a psychological
- assessment and an extensive security clearance process. As a Positive Vetting clearance is
- required, applicants must be Australian Citizens; be able to account for their personal background
- for their whole life; and be able to demonstrate suitability to work in a high security intelligence
- environment.
- Mandatory Qualifications:
- A role in this engineering occupation requires a Bachelor of Engineering from an Australian
- institution, or a qualification gained elsewhere, that satisfies the requirements of the Washington
- Accord for recognition as a Professional Engineer.
How to Apply
Position Contact WGCDR Jason Hall, 02 5108 3121
Agency Recruitment Site https://defencecareers.nga.net.au/?jati=85BED7F4-97AA-D8C1-32D4-ED1D4F959
Applicants to vacancies notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette should be aware:
that the names of successful applicants will also be notified in all formats of the electronic Public Service Gazette
applicants found suitable may be offered similar employment opportunities by other Australian Public Service agencies
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