Flight Safety Analyst New Kent, Washington

Stoke Space; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 328,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Life and disability insurance

401(k) with employer match

Holidays 10 days

On-site gym / wellness stipend

Dog-friendly offices

Job summary

Stoke Space is seeking a Flight Safety Analyst to own the development of simulation models for Nova’s GNC system and safety case. You will build probabilistic models to prove safe flight, reentry, and landing under varied failure scenarios while protecting public safety and meeting regulatory requirements.

You will collaborate with Design Reliability and System Safety engineers to deliver the complete safety narrative to FAA, Space Force, customers, and Stoke leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or equivalent field required.
• 5+ years in an engineering role on high-performance, complex products.
• Strong fundamentals in flight dynamics and statistics.
• Familiarity with orbital mechanics and trajectory design.
• Experience with simulation and modeling of physical systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop models to simulate vehicle functional failure modes and integrate with Nova GNC simulation.
• Perform Monte Carlo simulations to determine probabilistic trajectory outcomes after failures.
• Model debris from breakup scenarios and propagate debris to assess ground impact.
• Model expected casualties from failure scenarios given debris area and population distribution.
• Collaborate with Design Reliability and System Safety to gauge probability of failures and safety margins.
• Communicate results and refine analysis with FAA, Space Force, customers, and Stoke leadership.

Skills

Flight dynamics fundamentals

Statistics fundamentals

Simulation & modeling

Leadership ability

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or related field

Master’s degree or PhD preferred

Tools

Monte Carlo simulation tools

Job description

At Stoke, we believe a thriving space economy will enable a vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future here on Earth. That is why we’re building Nova, our fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle. Designed for daily flight, Nova tackles the core challenges of space transportation by reducing cost, increasing availability, and improving reliability. By radically lowering launch costs and increasing flight cadence, we’re helping create a truly scalable space industry.

Our team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work. If you want to work alongside some of the most dedicated and talented people on Earth, we’d love to have you join us.

Description

Asthe first dedicated Flight Safety Analyst and part of a small and agile GNCteam, you will ownthe development of simulation modeling capabilities and will produce analysisartifactsdemonstrating thatNovawilllaunch,reenter,and landboth the first and second stagesreliably while also protecting public safety.This includes modeling of potential failure scenarios, breakup and debris modeling, propagation of debris trajectories after failure scenarios,and calculation of expected casualties from malfunction scenarios.You will work withDesign Reliability and System Safety engineersto deliverthe complete story of how Nova operations protect publicand rangesafety to the FAA, Space Force,launch service customers, and Stoke leadership.You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop models to simulatevehicle functional failure modes and integratethose modelswith the core Nova GNC simulation
• Perform Monte Carlo simulationstodeterminestatistical probabilities of various trajectory outcomes after certain vehicle functional failures
• Developa model of debris generated from various vehicle breakup scenariosand model the propagation ofdebris to impact with the ground
• Develop a model of expected casualties from various failure scenarios given the debris impact area anda model of the population distribution
• Partner withDesign Reliability and System Safety engineerstodeterminethe probability of certain vehicle functional failures,inform overall expected casualties for Nova flight operations, and ensure that expected casualtiesremainwithin acceptable limits
• Communicateanalysis results,discuss feedback, and refine analysis approaches with external entities including FAA, Space Force, launch service customers, and others

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering or similar field
• 5+ years of experience in an engineering role on a complex product requiring high performance, high reliability, and a rapid development process
• Exceptional command of fundamentals of flight dynamics and statistics
• Familiarity with fundamentals of orbital mechanics and orbital trajectory design
• Experience with simulation and modeling of physical systems
• Ability to lead andfollow

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or PhD in aerospace engineering or similar field
• Experience with launch and/or reentry licensingwith the FAA per 14 CFR Part 450
• Experience with flight safety analysis with the Space Force per SSCMAN 91-710Vol. 2
• Equity – We are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all full-time employees.
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Holidays – 10 days (including an end-of-year closure)
• On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location)
• Dog friendly offices!

Compensation

Target Levels:

Level 3: $129,150 - $193,620

Level 4: $151,305 - $252,105

Level 5: $176,505 - $327,810

Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis.

Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

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.

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status. It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII. It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring.

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and backgroundchecks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company. Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.

Separate from this I-9 process, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations. Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.

Candidate Rights & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact [e-mail] . Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.

For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here .

E-Verify

Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.

For more information on the right to work, please refer to the poster here .