Flight Dynamics Engineer III (Trajectory), Elytra

Firefly Aerospace•Cedar Park, TX

20h

About The Position

As a Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer specializing in trajectory and maneuver design at Firefly, you will design and optimize spacecraft trajectories and maneuver sequences for operational missions spanning LEO and cislunar space. In this role, you will develop targeting algorithms, create error budgets, and serve as a flight dynamics operator while collaborating with cross-functional teams to translate mission designs into executable operations. This position combines advanced mission design with hands-on operational support while mentoring junior engineers in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
5-8 years of experience in spacecraft flight dynamics with significant depth in mission design or maneuver planning
Experience supporting operational spacecraft missions through multiple mission phases
Advanced understanding of orbital mechanics theory and applications
Understanding of spacecraft attitude control and its impact on maneuver execution accuracy
Strong understanding of targeting and optimization methods
Knowledge of estimation theory and uncertainty modeling
Experience in software development and modeling/simulation for spaceflight applications
Working knowledge of Python and Linux
Proficiency with one or more commercial trajectory design software tools (STK, FreeFlyer, GMAT, or similar)
Excellent communication and presentation skills

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (master's or PhD) in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
Expert-level proficiency in STK for spacecraft trajectory design
Python proficiency and experience with JPL's MONTE software suite
Software engineering expertise including skills in version control (Git), code review, automated testing, documentation, and CI/CD workflows
Comprehensive knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their impact on trajectory design and maneuver planning
Proven ability to mentor and develop junior engineers while managing technical responsibilities

Responsibilities

Optimize spacecraft trajectories to satisfy mission requirements while balancing delta-V budgets, mission duration, and payload constraints
Design and maintain mission designs from the conceptual phase through the end of spacecraft mission operations
Develop algorithms to target maneuvers that achieve spacecraft mission objectives
Create maneuver error budgets and perform sensitivity analysis to assess robustness to execution uncertainties
Formulate and analyze contingency maneuver plans and abort scenarios for off-nominal conditions
Interface with cross-discipline teams to translate maneuver plans into executable command sequences and operational procedures
Serve as a flight dynamics operator for spacecraft missions and perform maneuver reconstruction to improve spacecraft models
Perform verification and validation of flight dynamics models and software using analytical solutions, benchmarks, flight data, and unit tests
Author technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate flight dynamics concepts and results to diverse audiences