Trajectory Design Engineer – Hypersonic & Multi-Domain

The Aerospace Corporation; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health care

Paid holidays and vacation

Telework options

401(k) plan with company match

Flexible spending accounts

Relocation assistance

Professional growth programs

Education assistance

Job summary

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Member of the Technical Staff for the Emerging Missions Flight Dynamics Department. The role focuses on flight mechanics, trajectory optimization, and mission design across orbital and atmospheric regimes. Candidates should have strong programming skills and space-domain experience.

Hybrid onsite work model with multiple U.S. locations, requiring travel and the ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or related field.
• ],

Responsibilities

• Primary support 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, TTP exploration, and 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.
• Additional opportunities: Cislunar trajectory optimization and dynamical systems analysis.
• Time-dependent Traveling Salesman Problems and Facility Location analysis.
• Reentry risk and range safety assessments.
• Astrodynamics analysis: orbit propagation and maneuver design.
• Operational support for nominal launch, deployment/transfer, and anomaly resolution.
• Maneuver and orbit design/optimization for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations.
• Trajectory design for missions in LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, and other regimes

Skills

C

C++

Python

Fortran

MATLAB

Space mission analysis

Orbital mechanics

Optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Science/Mathematics

Tools

ASSET

GPOPS-II

SNOPT

POST

OTIS

Copernicus

GMAT

EMTG

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Member of the Technical Staff for the Emerging Missions Flight Dynamics Department. The role focuses on flight mechanics, trajectory optimization, and mission design across orbital and atmospheric regimes. Candidates should have strong programming skills and space-domain experience.

Hybrid onsite work model with multiple U.S. locations, requiring travel and the ability to obtain/maintain a security clearance.