Flight Dynamics Engineer II

Firefly Aerospace; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Parental leave

Educational reimbursement

Short-term disability

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Firefly Aerospace, headquartered in Texas, seeks a Flight Dynamics Engineer II to plan trajectories, develop software tools, and support real-time spacecraft operations across Earth orbit, cislunar space, and lunar missions. You will execute trajectory design, state estimation, and maneuver planning while collaborating with cross-functional teams to validate models and optimize mission performance.

Proficiency in Python, Linux, STK/GMAT/FreeFlyer/ODTK, and CI/CD is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field.
• 2-5 years of experience in spacecraft flight dynamics.
• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics theory and applications.
• Understanding of spacecraft attitude dynamics and control.
• Knowledge of targeting and optimization methods, estimation theory, and uncertainty modeling techniques.
• Experience in software development and modeling/simulation for spaceflight applications.
• Working knowledge of Python and Linux.
• Understanding of software development best practices including version control (Git), code documentation, and testing.
• Experience with one or more commercial flight dynamics software tools (STK, GMAT, FreeFlyer, ODTK, or similar).
• Master's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field.
• Experience across multiple flight dynamics disciplines, including trajectory design, maneuver planning, and orbit determination.
• Experience supporting operational spacecraft missions.
• Advanced Python programming skills
• Experience with spacecraft trajectory design using STK
• Exposure to JPL's MONTE software
• Familiarity with CI/CD workflows and automated testing
• Comprehensive knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their impact on trajectory design and orbit determination accuracy

Responsibilities

• Perform trajectory planning, state vector estimation, and maneuver design for operational spacecraft.
• Develop custom software tools and libraries to automate mission design and preparation workflows.
• Model high-fidelity spacecraft dynamics with gravitational perturbations, drag, solar radiation pressure, and other bodies.
• Perform Monte Carlo simulations and error budgeting for mission robustness.
• Interface with cross-discipline teams to provide ephemerides, navigation solutions, and maneuver plans.
• Serve as a flight dynamics operator for spacecraft missions and perform maneuver reconstruction.
• Build automated data processing pipelines and visualization tools for real-time ops and post-flight analysis.
• Perform validation of flight dynamics models against analytical solutions, benchmarks, flight data, and tests.
• Author technical documents and analyses communicating flight dynamics concepts to diverse audiences.

Skills

Python

Linux

Git

CI/CD workflows

Software development

Orbit mechanics knowledge

Trajectory design

Maneuver planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field

Master's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field

Tools

STK

GMAT

FreeFlyer

ODTK

MONTE

Job description

Career Opportunities with Firefly Aerospace

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Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company on a mission to reliably and repeatedly launch, land, and operate space systems from Earth to the Moon and beyond. As the partner of choice for critical space missions, Firefly is the first commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with 24-hour notice and the first company to achieve a successful Moon landing. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

SUMMARY

As a Flight Dynamics Engineer II at Firefly, you will apply your knowledge of orbital mechanics and spacecraft dynamics to plan trajectories, develop flight dynamics software tools, and support real-time spacecraft operations for missions spanning LEO and cislunar space. In this role, you will independently execute trajectory planning, state estimation, and maneuver design tasks while collaborating with cross-functional teams to model spacecraft dynamics, validate flight dynamics solutions, and contribute to the success of missions spanning Earth orbit, cislunar space, and the lunar surface. This position combines hands‑on analysis and software development with operational support across the full spacecraft mission lifecycle.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform trajectory planning, state vector estimation, and maneuver design for operational spacecraft
• Develop custom software tools and libraries to automate mission design and preparation workflows
• Model high-fidelity spacecraft dynamics that include the effects of gravitational perturbations, atmospheric drag, solar radiation pressure, and other celestial bodies
• Perform Monte Carlo simulations and error budgeting to assess mission robustness to dispersions in initial conditions, system performance, and environmental uncertainties
• Interface with cross-discipline teams to provide accurate ephemerides, navigation solutions, and maneuver plans for mission planning and operations
• Serve as a flight dynamics operator for spacecraft missions and perform maneuver reconstruction to improve spacecraft models
• Build automated data processing pipelines and visualization tools to support real‑time mission operations and post‑flight analysis
• Perform verification and validation of flight dynamics models and software against analytical solutions, benchmarks, flight data, and unit tests
• Author technical documentation and analysis reports that communicate flight dynamics concepts and results to diverse audiences

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
• 2-5 years of experience in spacecraft flight dynamics
• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics theory and applications
• Understanding of spacecraft attitude dynamics and control
• Knowledge of targeting and optimization methods, estimation theory, and uncertainty modeling techniques
• Experience in software development and modeling/simulation for spaceflight applications
• Working knowledge of Python and Linux
• Understanding of software development best practices including version control (Git), code documentation, and testing
• Experience with one or more commercial flight dynamics software tools (STK, GMAT, FreeFlyer, ODTK, or similar)
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Master's degree in aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, or related field
• Experience across multiple flight dynamics disciplines, including trajectory design, maneuver planning, and orbit determination
• Experience supporting operational spacecraft missions
• Advanced Python programming skillsExperience with spacecraft trajectory design using STK
• Exposure to JPL's MONTE software
• Familiarity with CI/CD workflows and automated testing
• Comprehensive knowledge of spacecraft subsystems and their impact on trajectory design and orbit determination accuracy

Firefly offers outstanding benefits for our employees, including generous health, dental and vision plans with low plan deductibles, parental leave, educational reimbursement, short term disability, and flexible PTO options.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Firefly is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.