2027 Earth-Orbit Flight Dynamics Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation • El Segundo, CA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Flight Dynamics Engineer to provide expertise for a wide range of customer flight dynamics needs, supporting both analysis and research and development requests. This role involves providing deep technical solutions and collaborating with engineering partners to facilitate integrated solutions for customers in defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial sectors. The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise, leveraging various engineering disciplines. The Earth Orbit Flight Dynamics Department (EOFDD) within EED provides flight mechanics expertise for launch vehicles and space vehicles, with relevant skills including orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, trajectory design and optimization, and atmospheric flight modeling and simulation.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related disciplines (pursuing or conferred within 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
• Willing to travel domestically approx. 10%
• The ability to obtain and maintain a US security clearance is required.
• U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• This position will require a TS clearance (SSBI) with SCI access and the chosen applicant will be submitted for this upon hiring if they do not currently possess it
• Transcripts required for this position

Nice To Haves

• PhD degree in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related disciplines is strongly desired. (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• Graduate level course work, research and/or experience in one or more of the following areas: 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 to combine numerical methods, orbital or flight mechanics, and optimization approaches for launch vehicles, missiles, interceptors, spacecraft, or reentry vehicles (hypersonics)
• Experience with nonlinear programming (non-linear 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 to include parallel processing and scripting experience
• Current TS/SCI and/or TS/SAP Access

Responsibilities

• Trajectory design and optimization for launch vehicles and spacecraft for missions operating in LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, and other earth-centric regimes
• Astrodynamics and orbital mechanics analysis including orbit propagation and maneuver design and optimization for orbit transfer, stationkeeping, graveyard, disposal, and reentry events
• Analysis of vehicles with chemical and/or electric propulsion
• Evaluating contested missions 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
• Developing Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), exploring Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), and incorporating operational constraints into the design and maturation of space systems
• Providing operational support for nominal launch and spacecraft deployment and transfer sequences, anomaly resolution, and on-call emerging events
• Utilizing optimal control, flight mechanics, and computer science/algorithm development skills to create new capabilities to service customer requests as stand-alone services and/or ready-to-integrate submodules
• Combining AI/ML/RL techniques with flight mechanics modeling for assessing complex analysis and decision-making trade spaces
• Performing research and development and building new flight dynamics tools to cultivate and maintain a healthy and modern internal tool base
• Leveraging external tools like ASSET, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, EMTG, etc. where appropriate to augment internally developed capabilities
• Cislunar and exploration-class orbital mechanics analysis and trajectory optimization
• Hypersonics, missiles, interceptors, and reentry vehicle trajectory design and optimization (including Golden Dome support)
• Time-dependent Traveling Salesman Problems and Facility Location Problem analysis (multi-destination, multi-vehicle trajectory frameworks)
• Integrated, multi-disciplinary 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 — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level