Flight Dynamics Engineer: Trajectory Design & Astrodynamics

The Aerospace Corporation; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness

Telework options

Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

401(k) plan with matching

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation in Chantilly, VA is seeking a Senior Member of the Technical Staff or Engineering Specialist to join the Earth Orbit Flight Dynamics Department. You will apply advanced flight mechanics, astrodynamics, and trajectory optimization to support national space programs and challenging missions for defense, civil, and commercial customers.

Responsibilities include design and optimization of launch vehicle trajectories, analysis, simulations, and development of new

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related disciplines.
• Five or more years of experience in flight mechanics, astrodynamics, maneuver optimization, trajectory optimization, launch vehicle trajectory design, hypersonic vehicle modeling, or general trajectory modeling and simulation.
• Experience in space-relevant TTPs development, operational planning, or battle management.
• Proficiency in one or more of the following programming languages and environments: C, C++, Fortran, Python, Linux, Java, and/or MATLAB.

Responsibilities

• Trajectory design and optimization for launch vehicles and spacecraft for missions operating in LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, and other earth-centric regimes.
• Astrodynamics and orbital mechanics analysis including orbit propagation and maneuver design and optimization for orbit transfer, station keeping, graveyard, disposal, and reentry events.
• Evaluating contested missions applications for space systems to understand threat performance, assess vulnerabilities, and improve system resiliency.
• Develop space warfighting tactics aligned to CSO and US SPACECOM priorities by providing technical, operational, and risk assessments.
• Maneuver and orbit design, selection, and optimization for missions that support Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) objectives with complex operational constraints.
• Providing operational support for nominal launch and spacecraft deployment and transfer sequences, anomaly resolution, and on-call emerging events.

Skills

C/C++

Fortran

Python

Mathematical modeling

Linux

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related disciplines

Tools

ASSET

GPOPS-II

SNOPT

POST

GMAT

OTIS

Copernicus

EMTG

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation in Chantilly, VA is seeking a Senior Member of the Technical Staff or Engineering Specialist to join the Earth Orbit Flight Dynamics Department. You will apply advanced flight mechanics, astrodynamics, and trajectory optimization to support national space programs and challenging missions for defense, civil, and commercial customers.

Responsibilities include design and optimization of launch vehicle trajectories, analysis, simulations, and development of new