2027 Trajectory Optimization Graduate Intern
About The Position
The Aerospace Corporation’s Emerging Missions Flight Dynamics Department provides flight mechanics expertise across areas including cislunar flight mechanics, multi-objective trajectory sequencing, facility-location optimization, and trans-atmospheric modeling. The Graduate Intern will support customer flight-mechanics needs through analysis, research, and development, delivering technical solutions and collaborating with engineering partners on complex problems for defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial customers. The position is full-time and on-site in El Segundo, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; or Chantilly, Virginia. The intern will develop and apply techniques for flight mechanics and astrodynamics, simulate trajectories, optimize multi-objective performance, and analyze combinatorial optimization and sequential decision-making problems. The work may include participation in interdisciplinary research with academic collaborators, prescribed scientific or engineering tasks, and full-life-cycle business or engineering projects. Training and mentorship will be provided. Related collaboration opportunities include cislunar and exploration-class orbital mechanics and trajectory optimization, as well as trajectory design and optimization for hypersonics, missiles, interceptors, and reentry vehicles. Duties may change or be added as needed. This internship requires a minimum of 10 weeks of full-time work outside the university term, followed by a return to full-time study in a master’s or PhD program. An undergraduate degree must be completed by the internship start date. Temporary housing assistance is not available. Compensation is $32.00–$38.00 per hour.
Requirements
- Currently enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university and pursuing a master’s or PhD degree in aeronautical or astronautical engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or a related discipline; graduate study is strongly desired.
- Available to work full-time for at least 10 weeks outside the university term and able to return to a master’s or PhD program full-time after the internship.
- Undergraduate degree completed by the internship start date.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Graduate-level coursework, research, or experience in one or more of orbital mechanics, optimal control, flight mechanics, or trajectory modeling and simulation.
- Programming experience in at least one of Python, C/C++, Fortran, or MATLAB.
- Experience with software design, development, unit testing, and integration.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a clearance.
- Transcripts are required.
- 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
- GPA of 3.5 or higher.
- Active security clearance.
- 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 gradient-based or 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 developing and delivering presentations or leading small groups.
- Experience working autonomously on complex projects.
Responsibilities
- Develop and apply advanced techniques for solving flight mechanics and astrodynamics problems.
- Perform trajectory simulation and multi-objective performance optimization of constellations, spacecraft, missiles, and reentry vehicles.
- Analyze multi-objective combinatorial optimization and sequential decision-making problems, including the Traveling Salesman Problem, Facility Location Problem, and Markov Decision Processes.
- Participate with an interdisciplinary team in ongoing research or technical programs with academic collaboration partners.
- Apply standard techniques and procedures to carry out prescribed scientific and engineering tasks.
- Work on business or engineering full-life-cycle projects from project inception through launch.
- Collaborate with engineering partners to develop integrated technical solutions for customer problems.
- Support flight-mechanics analysis, research, and development requests for defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial customers.
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.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
