Lead Mission Design & Flight Dynamics

Impulsespace; Louisville (CO); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long-term incentives in stock options

Medical, vision & dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Impulse Space is seeking a Mission Design and Flight Dynamics Manager to lead a team of navigation, flight dynamics, and mission design engineers. You will own the technical direction from concept through end of mission and coordinate with Business Development and Space Operations to deliver compelling proposals and mission concepts.

You will define navigation architectures, oversee trajectory design across regimes, and drive production-quality software and tools.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related field.
• 10+ years of demonstrated experience in spacecraft flight dynamics, astrodynamics, or mission design.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical trades clearly to customers, executives, and non-specialists.
• Demonstrated experience supporting spacecraft operations or mission-critical events.
• Proficiency in Python and/or C++ for engineering tool development.
• Demonstrated experience developing production-quality technical software.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and mentor a team of navigation, flight dynamics, and mission design engineers, owning hiring, career development, technical standards, and the team's roadmap across programs and pursuits.
• Serve as the technical authority for mission design, trajectory, orbit determination, and maneuver decisions from concept through end of mission.
• Lead mission solutioning for inbound customers and RFP responses, translating customer objectives into CONOPS and demonstrating how Impulse vehicles close the mission.
• Partner with Business Development and customers to capture requirements, run rapid feasibility studies, and deliver mission design content for proposals and meetings.
• Maintain a current understanding of product line performance and feed mission needs back into roadmaps and designs.
• Direct trajectory design and optimization across regimes and propulsion types, balancing ΔV, time of flight, complexity, and navigation sensitivity.
• Define navigation architectures and advance orbit determination and inertial navigation beyond LEO, including radiometric and optical navigation.
• Own flight dynamics support to Space Operations, planning and executing maneuvers, orbit determination, and contingencies.
• Drive toolchain and automation, building production-quality tools for propagation, targeting, and rapid mission analysis.
• Support licensing and regulatory work for missions, including debris mitigation and disposal analyses.

Skills

Leadership

Astrodynamics

Trajectory design

Python

C++

Communication skills

Production-quality software

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related field

Tools

CAD software

Simulation tools

Job description

Impulse Space is seeking a Mission Design and Flight Dynamics Manager to lead a team of navigation, flight dynamics, and mission design engineers. You will own the technical direction from concept through end of mission and coordinate with Business Development and Space Operations to deliver compelling proposals and mission concepts.

You will define navigation architectures, oversee trajectory design across regimes, and drive production-quality software and tools.