Hypersonic Trajectory Optimization Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care and wellness plans

Telework options

401(k) plan

Paid holidays

Relocation assistance

Education assistance

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a MT/S Flight Mechanics expert to join a team delivering advanced orbital and atmospheric analyses for national space programs. The role covers trajectory design, optimization, and mission analysis for hypersonic, missile, and space systems, with opportunities to collaborate across defense, civil, and commercial customers.

Qualifications include a Master’s or PhD in a related field, hands-on experience with numerical optimization, and strong coding in C/C++,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited college/university program in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or related technical discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 0-1 years of relevant professional, technical work experience.
• Experience in space mission analysis and design, advanced astrodynamics, algorithm design, software development, or mathematical modeling, multi-objective optimization, trajectory simulation and performance optimization of spacecraft, missiles, and reentry vehicles
• Proficiency with C, C++, Python, Fortran, MATLAB
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Willing to travel domestically to customer and contractor facilities (approx. 10%)
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required

Responsibilities

• Trajectory design and optimization for hypersonic/high-speed systems, missiles, interceptors, and reentry vehicles
• Missile system and missile defense engagement simulation and performance analysis
• Multi-domain mission design for systems transiting orbital and atmospheric regimes
• Constrained optimal control determination for vehicles with aerodynamic and/or propulsive forces
• Contested space mission evaluation: threat assessment and resiliency improvement
• CONOPS development and operational constraint integration for space systems
• Development of new capabilities using optimal control, flight mechanics, and algorithm development
• Algorithm and software R&D to maintain modern internal tool base
• Application of external tools like ASSET, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, EMTG

Skills

C

C++

Python

Fortran

MATLAB

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in Engineering/Science/Mathematics

Ph.D. in Engineering/Science/Math

Tools

ASSET

GPOPS-II

SNOPT

POST

OTIS

Copernicus

GMAT

EMTG

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a MT/S Flight Mechanics expert to join a team delivering advanced orbital and atmospheric analyses for national space programs. The role covers trajectory design, optimization, and mission analysis for hypersonic, missile, and space systems, with opportunities to collaborate across defense, civil, and commercial customers.

Qualifications include a Master’s or PhD in a related field, hands-on experience with numerical optimization, and strong coding in C/C++,