Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer for Hypersonics & Space

Leidos Inc; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Defense Systems seeks a Flight Dynamicist to join our Advanced Development Organization. You will develop 3DOF/6DOF flight dynamics, run trajectory designs, and create high-fidelity simulations for missiles, hypersonic, and space systems.

You will collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, and software teams to ensure robust design, verification, and test activities, while supporting proposals and customer engagements.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited aerospace or related bachelor.
• 8–10 years in flight dynamics, trajectory analysis, or mission design.
• Experience developing and analyzing 3DOF/6DOF vehicle simulations.
• Strong flight and orbital mechanics understanding.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink, Python, STK, GMAT, FORTRAN, C/C++.
• Active security clearance with ability to obtain higher clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and analyze 3DOF/6DOF flight dynamics models for vehicle performance.
• Perform trajectory design and optimization for hypersonic/missile/space systems.
• Design and validate GNC algorithms including autopilot and trajectory shaping.
• Develop high-fidelity simulations and digital engineering models.
• Conduct aerodynamic, propulsion, mass properties analyses.
• Perform flight mechanics analyses including stability and separation dynamics.
• Integrate mission-level models in modeling/simulation frameworks.
• Support flight test planning, predictions, and data analysis.
• Collaborate across disciplines to translate requirements into designs.
• Support proposals, customer engagements, and design reviews.

Education

Bachelor's Degree (ABET-accredited) in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related field

Master's Degree

PhD

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

STK

GMAT

FORTRAN

C/C++

Job description

Leidos Defense Systems seeks a Flight Dynamicist to join our Advanced Development Organization. You will develop 3DOF/6DOF flight dynamics, run trajectory designs, and create high-fidelity simulations for missiles, hypersonic, and space systems.

You will collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, and software teams to ensure robust design, verification, and test activities, while supporting proposals and customer engagements.