Principal GNC & Trajectory Analyst

Telesis; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Telesis, based at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL, seeks a Principal-level engineer to support the Missile Defense Agency Targets program. You will lead analysis, modeling, and trajectory development for missile defense target vehicles, applying GNC, M&S, and vehicle dynamics expertise.

You will generate and assess 6-DoF/3-DoF trajectories, work with TAOS/STK and in-house tools, and collaborate with a team of experts across engineering disciplines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's with DoD missile defense experience.
• Active DoD Secret clearance; US citizenship required.
• Strong grasp of aerodynamics, equations of motion, coordinate systems.
• Experience with missile trajectory analysis and coordinate frames.
• Knowledge of satellite orbital mechanics and maneuver planning.
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, Java, C#, and other languages.
• Familiarity with modeling and simulation tools TAOS, STK.

Responsibilities

• Support MDA Targets program with missile defense target vehicles.
• Contribute to design, analysis, and testing of targets.
• Develop requirements, modeling, and trajectory data analysis.
• Analyze 6-DoF and 3-DoF trajectories using TAOS and in-house tools.
• Support flight test analysis and instrumentation data review.
• Collaborate with cross-functional experts to build analysis tools.

Skills

MATLAB/Python/Java/C#

Trajectory analysis

Aircraft/vehicle dynamics

Modeling & simulation tools

Oral & written communication

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree + 20+ years missile defense DoD

Master's degree + 12+ years DoD

Tools

TAOS

STK

Job description

Requisition #: TLS-26-001 | Clearance: Active DoD Secret (US citizenship required) | Level: Principal | Experience: 20+ years | Education: Bachelor's (4-yr) | Work site: Redstone Arsenal - Huntsville, AL (on-site)

What you'll do

• Support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Directorate for Test (DT) Targets program office with development of missile defense target vehicles
• Support the Targets System Engineering team in all aspects of target design, analysis, and test to include requirements development and assessment, modeling and simulation, test analysis and reporting
• Utilize knowledge, skills and experience with missile characteristics (physical, kinematics, signatures) and engineering to support engineering activities and data product development
• Technical focus areas include Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC), Modeling and Simulation (M&S), and vehicle performance assessments
• Generate and analyze target vehicle 6-DoF and 3-DoF trajectory data using industry standard (e.g., TAOS) and in-house developed (e.g., MATLAB, Python, C++) tools
• Support flight test analysis and reporting to include analyzing vehicle onboard instrumentation data and generating trajectory reconstruction
• Collaborate with a dynamic team of experts in multiple technical areas to develop analysis and engineering tools

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 20+ years working on missile defense-related or other DoD programs/projects OR a Master's degree and 12+ years working on missile defense-related or other DoD programs/projects
• Active DoD Secret security clearance, which requires US Citizenship
• Strong understanding of principles of aerodynamics; equations of motion; coordinate systems; vehicle dynamics; guidance, navigation, and control; etc.
• Experience with missile trajectory analysis to include working in different coordinate frames, endo- and exo-atmospheric behaviors, and identifying key trajectory parameters
• Knowledge of satellite orbital mechanics, ephemeris, orbit propagation, perturbations, determination, and maneuver planning
• Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, Java, C#, and other programming languages
• Skilled in use of modeling and simulation tools (e.g., TAOS, STK)
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)

Preferred qualifications

• Familiarity with MDA and/or DoD programs and processes
• Experience in any or all of the following disciplines: Design, CAD, Trajectory, Radar Cross Section (RCS) Signatures, Optical Signatures
• Strong attention to detail and ability to efficiently perform multiple tasks
• Ability to communicate detailed technical information to technical and non-technical personnel