Astrodynamics Engineer

Darwin Recruitment; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 123,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite role in El Segundo

Top Secret clearance eligibility

Job summary

Darwin Recruitment is seeking an Astrodynamics Engineer for an onsite role in El Segundo, California. The team works across space mission design, trajectory design, orbital manoeuvres, debris avoidance and space domain awareness within a large aerospace group.

As a Level 3/4 engineer you will lead the astrodynamics subsystem, set engineering standards, and own the CONOPS from inception to end-of-life disposal.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of engineering industry experience.
• 3+ years in orbital mechanics, orbit design or astrodynamics.
• US citizenship with the ability to obtain Top Secret clearance post start.
• Active Top Secret clearance is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform astrodynamics and orbit analyses.
• Determine and derive astrodynamics requirements to meet customer requirements and perform customer missions.
• Optimise spacecraft trajectories against fuel, time and performance characteristics.
• Define and develop the tools and processes used by mission operations and the broader team.
• Oversee Astrodynamics engineering across a range of programmes and portfolios.
• Interface with other satellite subsystems, systems engineering and programme management to ensure system level performance.
• Provide technical leadership to a team of engineers, including decomposition and delegation of tasks.
• Mentor other members of the team and be accountable for the quality of work coming from the group.

Skills

Astrodynamics

Orbital mechanics

Trajectory design

MATLAB

Python

Fortran

C++

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or related field

Tools

GMAT

STK

Job description

Astrodynamics Engineer
El Segundo, California

This is a small satellite company focused on national security space, part of one of the world’s largest aerospace and defence groups. Their missions include missile warning and Earth observation.

They offer startup pace with the stability of the parent business behind it. The work is broad rather than narrow, so engineers here are not pigeonholed into one corner of their discipline.

The Astrodynamics team handles modelling, simulation and analysis across space mission design, trajectory design, orbital manoeuvres, orbit estimation, debris collision avoidance and space domain awareness. They stay involved across the whole programme lifecycle, from mission design inputs through to console support for on orbit operations. They own the orbital CONOPS from inception through on orbit operations to end of life disposal, and they determine the capability the satellite’s propulsion system needs.

They are hiring at Level 3 and Level 4. You would be the Responsible Engineering Authority for the Astrodynamics subsystem on a given programme, study or proposal, and as an experienced member of the team you would help set the engineering standard for the group.

What you will do

• Perform astrodynamics and orbit analyses
• Determine and derive astrodynamics requirements to meet customer requirements and perform customer missions
• Optimise spacecraft trajectories against fuel, time and performance characteristics
• Define and develop the tools and processes used by mission operations and the broader team
• Oversee Astrodynamics engineering across a range of programmes and portfolios
• Interface with other satellite subsystems, systems engineering and programme management to ensure system level performance
• Provide technical leadership to a team of engineers, including decomposition and delegation of tasks
• Mentor other members of the team and be accountable for the quality of work coming from the group

Who this suits

• Someone with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or a related technical discipline and 5 or more years of engineering industry experience, or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience
• 3 or more years in orbital mechanics, orbit design or astrodynamics
• 3 or more years with orbit design and simulation tools such as GMAT, STK or COTS mission planning tools, plus scientific computing in MATLAB, Python, Julia, Fortran or C++
• US citizenship, with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance post start
• Useful extras: 9 or more years in orbit analysis roles, rendezvous and proximity operations or formation flight, trajectory optimisation, relative motion manoeuvring, orbit determination techniques, architecting novel methods and algorithms for complex mission analyses, setting programme direction and group standards, an active Top Secret clearance

What you get

• Level 3: $123,000 to $183,000.
• Level 4: $150,750 to $225,000.
• This role is 100% onsite in El Segundo.
• Relocation assistance is not a negotiable benefit for this position.
• This role is export controlled and requires US Person status.
• There is no visa sponsorship.
• The company is a drug free workplace with post offer testing, and successful candidates complete a conflict of interest assessment.