Director – Earth-Orbit Flight Dynamics

Jobtailor; California (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking a senior leader to develop and execute a strategic vision for a multi-location aerospace department. You will manage 25+ technical staff and partners across customers to advance Earth‑orbit flight dynamics and trajectory optimization.

You will advise executives on investments, lead workforce development, and drive AI/ML enhanced trajectory design while collaborating across divisions and with defense agencies and NASA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related STEM field.
• 10+ years of technical leadership in flight dynamics/trajectory design.
• Executive-level customer relationship experience.
• Proven staff development and strategic planning.
• Experience with distributed teams across locations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic vision for a multi-location department with 25+ staff and managers.
• Partner with customers to develop flight dynamics solutions and position EOFD as the technical authority in Earth‑orbit flight dynamics and trajectory optimization.
• Advise leadership on technical investments and organizational strategies.
• Drive flight dynamics excellence across trajectory design, multi‑burn transfers, and propulsion optimization.
• Infuse AI/ML into optimization techniques to transform trajectory design.
• Collaborate across divisions to integrate flight dynamics with space domain awareness and mission analysis.
• Cultivate relationships with defense agencies, NASA, and space operators.
• Lead workforce development including recruiting, mentoring, and retention strategies.
• Represent the department at customer engagements, corporate forums, and conferences.
• Manage department resources including staffing, facilities, and classified IT infrastructure.
• Foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Staff management

Customer relationships

Executive communication

Business development

Stakeholder management

Travel willingness

Cross-functional collaboration

R&D portfolio

Talent acquisition

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace/physics/maths

Job description

• Develop and execute a strategic vision for a multi-location department, managing 25+ technical staff and managers
• Partner with customers to develop innovative flight dynamics solutions and position EOFD as the technical authority in Earth‑orbit flight dynamics and trajectory optimization
• Formulate business strategies alongside Engineering and Technology Group partners in critical flight mechanics domains, such as tactics development, spacecraft maneuver design, or rendezvous and proximity operations
• Advise Aerospace leadership on technical investments and organizational strategies
• Drive flight dynamics excellence across launch vehicle trajectory design, multi‑burn orbit transfers, and electric/hybrid propulsion optimization
• Infuse AI/ML into optimization techniques to transform trajectory design for launch and Earth‑orbiting flight regimes
• Collaborate across divisions to integrate flight dynamics with space domain awareness and multi‑disciplinary mission analysis
• Cultivate relationships across defense agencies, intelligence organizations, NASA, and commercial space operators
• Drive business development and capture planning for organizational growth in advanced mission operations and responsive space capabilities
• Represent the department at customer engagements, corporate forums, and technical conferences
• Lead workforce development initiatives including recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retention strategies
• Manage department resources including staffing, facilities, and classified IT infrastructure
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related STEM field
• 10+ years of progressively responsible technical experiences in flight dynamics, astrodynamics, or trajectory design
• Proven leadership experience managing technical organizations, including staff development, performance evaluation, strategic planning, and R&D portfolio development
• Executive‑level customer relationships with demonstrated success building partnerships across organizations
• Business development acumen with proven track record of expanding customer relationships
• Exceptional communication skills to influence senior government officials, industry partners, and internal stakeholders
• Experience managing distributed teams across multiple geographic locations
• Strategic thinking to synthesize complex technical, programmatic, and customer needs into actionable vision
• Collaborative leadership fostering excellence across organizational boundaries
• Willingness to travel domestically based on organizational and customer needs
• Current TS/SCI and/or TS/SAP access