2027 Earth-Orbit Flight Dynamics Engineer
About The Position
The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Member of the Technical Staff to provide flight mechanics expertise for launch vehicles and space vehicles. The role supports a wide range of customer analysis and research-and-development needs, delivering deep technical solutions and collaborating with engineering partners on integrated solutions. Customers include defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial organizations. The work covers trajectory design and optimization, astrodynamics and orbital mechanics analysis, vehicle propulsion analysis, contested-mission assessment, rendezvous and proximity operations, operational concepts, and operational support. The position also involves developing algorithms and tools, applying AI/ML/RL techniques to flight mechanics problems, and conducting research and development to maintain modern internal flight dynamics capabilities. External analysis tools may be used where appropriate. The position is full-time and on-site in El Segundo, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Chantilly, Virginia; or Albuquerque, New Mexico. Domestic travel of approximately 10% is required. The successful applicant must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for clearance eligibility. The role requires a TS clearance with SCI access, and applicants who do not already hold it will be submitted for it upon hiring. Transcripts are required.
Requirements
- Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in aeronautical or astronautical engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or a related discipline; the degree may be in progress or conferred within the last 12 months.
- 0–1 years of experience in flight mechanics, astrodynamics, maneuver optimization, trajectory optimization, launch vehicle trajectory design, hypersonic vehicle modeling, or general trajectory modeling and simulation.
- Proficiency in one or more of the following programming languages and environments: C, C++, Fortran, Python, JavaScript, Linux, and/or MATLAB.
- Willingness to travel domestically approximately 10%.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a clearance.
- Ability to obtain a TS clearance with SCI access; applicants who do not currently possess it will be submitted for it upon hiring.
- Transcripts are required.
Nice To Haves
- Ph.D. in aeronautical or astronautical engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or a related discipline; may be in progress or conferred within the last 12 months.
- Graduate-level coursework, research, and/or experience in orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, ascent trajectory modeling, hypersonic flight simulation, optimal control, flight mechanics, and/or trajectory modeling and simulation.
- Experience using or building analysis software that combines numerical methods, orbital or flight mechanics, and optimization approaches for launch vehicles, missiles, interceptors, spacecraft, or hypersonic reentry vehicles.
- Experience with nonlinear programming, direct methods, gradient-based optimization, parameter optimization, genetic algorithms, evolutionary algorithms, heuristic optimization methods, indirect methods, and/or calculus of variations.
- Advanced algorithm-development skills, including parallel processing and scripting experience.
- Current TS/SCI and/or TS/SAP access.
Responsibilities
- Design and optimize trajectories for launch vehicles and spacecraft operating in LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, and other Earth-centric regimes.
- Perform astrodynamics and orbital mechanics analyses, including orbit propagation and maneuver design and optimization for orbit transfer, stationkeeping, graveyard, disposal, and reentry events.
- Analyze vehicles using chemical and/or electric propulsion.
- Evaluate contested mission applications for space systems to understand threat performance, assess vulnerabilities, and improve system resiliency.
- Support maneuver and orbit design for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) missions.
- Develop Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), explore Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), and incorporate operational constraints into space-system design and maturation.
- Provide operational support for nominal launch and spacecraft deployment and transfer sequences, anomaly resolution, and emerging events requiring on-call support.
- Apply optimal control, flight mechanics, and computer science and algorithm-development skills to create capabilities for customer requests, as stand-alone services or ready-to-integrate submodules.
- Combine AI/ML/RL techniques with flight mechanics modeling to assess complex analysis and decision-making trade spaces.
- Conduct research and development and build flight dynamics tools to cultivate and maintain a modern internal tool base.
- Use external tools such as ASSET, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, and EMTG where appropriate.
- Collaborate across departments on cislunar and exploration-class orbital mechanics and trajectory optimization; hypersonics, missiles, interceptors, and reentry vehicle trajectory design; time-dependent Traveling Salesman and Facility Location problem analysis; and integrated, multidisciplinary RPO system simulations.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
- Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
- Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
- 401(k) plan with company-paid benefits of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service, plus matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
- Flexible spending accounts.
- Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
- Relocation assistance.
- Professional growth and development programs.
- Education assistance programs.
- Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
