2027 Trajectory Optimization Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation•Colorado Springs, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation’s Emerging Missions Flight Dynamics Department provides flight mechanics expertise across cislunar missions, multi-objective trajectory sequencing, facility location optimization, and trans-atmospheric flight design. The selected candidate will deliver analysis, research, and development support for customer flight mechanics needs, applying technical expertise while collaborating with engineering partners on integrated solutions for defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial customers. The role is full-time and requires working on-site at one of the company’s facilities in Colorado Springs, Colorado; El Segundo, California; Chantilly, Virginia; or Albuquerque, New Mexico. The engineer will support astrodynamics and orbital mechanics analyses, combinatorial and multi-objective optimization, and development and use of flight-mechanics software. Work may also involve assessing contested mission applications, developing concepts of operations and tactics, and providing operational support for launches, spacecraft deployments, anomalies, and emerging events. Potential partnership work includes rendezvous and proximity operations, cislunar exploration, hypersonics and reentry, vehicles with chemical or electric propulsion, and launch vehicle and spacecraft trajectories across Earth-orbit regimes. The position requires a relevant master’s degree (pursuing or conferred within the last 12 months), 0–1 year of industry experience, relevant technical experience, and proficiency in at least one specified programming language or tool. Candidates must be willing to travel domestically approximately 10% and be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required for clearance eligibility.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or a related technical discipline, pursuing or conferred within the last 12 months.
0–1 year of industry work experience.
Experience in one or more of: space mission analysis and design, advanced astrodynamics, algorithm design, software development, mathematical modeling, multi-objective optimization, decision-making under uncertainty, or trajectory simulation and performance optimization.
Proficiency with one or more of Python, C/C++, Fortran, or MATLAB.
Willingness to travel domestically to customer and contractor facilities approximately 10%.
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a clearance.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Ability to work well in a team environment.
Strong organizational, time-management, and project-management skills.
Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational needs.
Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with internal and external organizations.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or a related technical discipline, pursuing or conferred within the last 12 months.
Experience with sequential decision-making and optimization algorithms, such as Monte Carlo Tree Search, Markov Decision Processes, Reinforcement Learning, Genetic Algorithms, or Particle Swarm Optimization.
Experience with multi-objective optimization, linear or nonlinear programming, and/or gradient-based and indirect methods.
Experience with reachable-set analysis for dynamical systems.
Experience building astrodynamics or flight-mechanics analysis software with integrated optimization or decision-making algorithms.
Experience with object-oriented programming, joint C++/Python development, and modern software development practices such as Git or version control.
Experience with contested-space trajectory applications, military exercises, and wargaming events.
Ability to build effective relationships with customers, contractors, and FFRDC personnel, including direct engagement with senior government stakeholders.
Current SSBI with active TS/SCI clearance and/or current SAP access.

Responsibilities

Perform astrodynamics and orbital mechanics analysis, including orbit propagation, constellation design and optimization, and maneuver design and optimization for orbit transfer, station keeping, graveyard, disposal, and reentry events.
Analyze combinatorial optimization and sequential decision-making problems, including Traveling Salesman Problems, Facility Location Problems, and Markov Decision Processes.
Analyze multi-objective optimization problems using metaheuristic, mathematical programming, deterministic, and optimal control methods.
Create, augment, and use flight-mechanics software capabilities as standalone tools and integrable submodules.
Use external tools such as SciPy, ASSET, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, and EMTG where appropriate to augment internally developed capabilities.
Evaluate contested-mission applications for space systems to understand threat performance, assess vulnerabilities, and improve system resiliency.
Develop Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), explore Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), and incorporate operational constraints into space and near-space system design and maturation.
Provide operational support for nominal launch, spacecraft deployment and transfer sequences, anomaly resolution, and on-call emerging events.
Collaborate across departments on maneuver and orbit design, selection, and optimization for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations missions with complex operational constraints.
Support cislunar and exploration-class orbital mechanics analysis and trajectory optimization.
Support hypersonics, missile, interceptor, and reentry vehicle trajectory design and optimization.
Analyze vehicles with chemical and/or electric propulsion.
Design and optimize trajectories for launch vehicles and spacecraft operating in LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, and other Earth-centric regimes.
Travel domestically to customer and contractor facilities approximately 10%.
Perform other duties and activities as assigned or as needs change.

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 contributions 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.