Orbital Flight Dynamics Engineer — Trajectory & RPO Expert

The Aerospace Corporation; United States; On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care and wellness

Paid holidays and vacation

401(k) plan with employer match

Relocation assistance

Education assistance

Flexible scheduling / telework options

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Member of the Technical Staff – Flight Mechanics to provide expert trajectory design, astrodynamics analysis, and CONOPS development for space missions. You will work on launch vehicle and spacecraft trajectory optimization across LEO to GEO, collaborating with partners to deliver robust space system solutions.

Qualifications include a Master’s in a related field, 0–1 years experience, and proficiency in C/C++/Fortran/MATLAB among others.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related disciplines (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 0-1 years of experience in flight mechanics, astrodynamics, maneuver optimization, trajectory optimization, launch vehicle trajectory design, hypersonic vehicle modeling, or general trajectory modeling and simulation
• Proficiency in C, C++, Fortran, Python, Javascript, Linux, and/or MATLAB
• Willing to travel domestically approx. 10%
• The ability to obtain and maintain a US security clearance is required. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. This position will require a TS clearance (SSBI) with SCI access and the chosen applicant will be submitted for this upon hiring if they do not currently possess it
• Transcripts required for this position

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
• Analysis of vehicles with chemical and/or electric propulsion
• Evaluating contested missions applications for space systems to understand threat performance, assess vulnerabilities, and improve system resiliency
• Support maneuver and orbit design for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) missions
• Developing Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), exploring Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), and incorporating operational constraints into the design and maturation of space systems
• Providing operational support for nominal launch and spacecraft deployment and transfer sequences, anomaly resolution, and on-call emerging events
• Utilizing optimal control, flight mechanics, and computer science/algorithm development skills to create new capabilities to service customer requests as stand-alone services and/or ready-to-integrate submodules
• Combining AI/ML/RL techniques with flight mechanics modeling for assessing complex analysis and decision-making trade spaces
• Performing research and development and building new flight dynamics tools to cultivate and maintain a healthy and modern internal tool base
• Leveraging external tools like ASSET, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, EMTG, etc. where appropriate to augment internally developed capabilities

Skills

C/C++

Python

Fortran

MATLAB

Linux

JavaScript

Education

Master's degree in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related disciplines

Tools

ASSET

GPOPS-II

SNOPT

POST

OTIS

Copernicus

GMAT

EMTG

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Member of the Technical Staff – Flight Mechanics to provide expert trajectory design, astrodynamics analysis, and CONOPS development for space missions. You will work on launch vehicle and spacecraft trajectory optimization across LEO to GEO, collaborating with partners to deliver robust space system solutions.

Qualifications include a Master’s in a related field, 0–1 years experience, and proficiency in C/C++/Fortran/MATLAB among others.