2025 Flight Dynamics Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nations space programs solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space delivering innovative solutions that span satellite launch ground and cyber systems for defense civil and commercial customers. When you join our team youll be part of a special collection of problem solvers thought leaders and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

Job Summary

The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospaces strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a dynamic portfolio of programs customers and national challenges. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and spaceenabled capabilities.

As a core component of EED the Earth Orbit Flight Dynamics Department (EOFDD) provides flight mechanics expertise for launch vehicles and space vehicles. Relevant skills include orbital mechanics astrodynamics trajectory design and optimization and atmospheric flight modeling and simulation. We are looking for a Member of the Technical Staff to join the EOFDD team in the Contested Missions Section (CMS). The selected candidate will provide expertise for a wide range of customer flight mechanics needs supporting both analysis and research and development requests. The work will require candidates to provide deep technical solutions while also collaborating with engineering partners to facilitate integrated solutions for our customers hardest problems. Customers will include defense intelligence and civil and commercial organizations.

Work Model

• This position will be a hybrid work model based in El Segundo CA Colorado Springs CO Chantilly VA or Albuquerque NM with the expectation that the selected candidate works at least 3 days a week onsite as the business needs allow.

What Youll Be Doing

Primary Support

• Trajectory design and optimization for launch vehicles and spacecraft for missions operating in LEO MEO HEO GEO and other earthcentric regimes
• Astrodynamics and orbital mechanics analysis including orbit propagation and maneuver design and optimization for orbit transfer stationkeeping 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
• Maneuver and orbit design selection and optimization for missions that support Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) objectives with complex operational constraints
• 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 oncall emerging events
• Utilizing optimal control flight mechanics and computer science/algorithm development skills to create new capabilities to service customer requests as standalone services and/or readytointegrate submodules
• 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 GPOPSII SNOPT POST OTIS Copernicus GMAT EMTG etc. where appropriate to augment internally developed capabilities

Additional interdepartment collaboration opportunities:

• Cislunar and explorationclass orbital mechanics analysis and trajectory optimization
• Hypersonics missiles interceptors and reentry vehicle trajectory design and optimization
• Timedependent Traveling Salesman Problems and Facility Location Problem analysis
• Integrated multidisciplinary RPO system simulations

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements

• Masters degree in aeronautical/astronautical engineering physics or applied mathematics or related disciplines (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 01 year of industry work experience
• Graduate level coursework in flight mechanics astrodynamics maneuver optimization trajectory optimization launch vehicle trajectory design hypersonic vehicle modeling or general trajectory modeling and simulation
• Proficiency in one or more of the following programming languages and environments: C C Fortran Python Linux and/or MATLAB
• Willing to travel domestically approx. 10
• The ability to obtain and maintain a TS//SSBI (SCI) clearance which is issued by the U.S. government is strongly preferred; U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance (applicant will be submitted for this clearance upon hiring if they do not currently possess it)
• Transcripts required for this position

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• PhD degree in aeronautical/astronautical engineering physics or applied mathematics or related disciplines is strongly desired (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months)
• 01 year of industry work experience
• Graduate level coursework research and/or experience in one or more of the following areas: orbital mechanics astrodynamics ascent trajectory modeling hypersonic flight simulation optimal control flight mechanics and/or trajectory modeling and simulation
• Experience using or building analysis software to combine numerical methods orbital or flight mechanics and optimization approaches for launch vehicles missiles interceptors spacecraft or reentry vehicles (hypersonics)
• Experience with nonlinear programming (nonlinear programming) direct methods gradientbased optimization parameter optimization genetic algorithms evolutionary algorithms heuristic optimization methods indirect methods and/or calculus of variations
• Advanced algorithm development skills to include parallel processing and scripting experience
• Current TS/SCI and/or TS/SAP Access
• Transcripts required for this position

We offer a competitive compensation package where youll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The gradebased pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education experience knowledge and skills.

(Min Max)

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee regardless of level and role can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process our team will provide details of our industryleading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

• Paid holidays sick time and vacation

• Standard and alternate work schedules including telework options

• 401(k) Plan Employees receive a total companypaid benefit of 8 10 or 12 of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire

• Flexible spending accounts

• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

• Relocation assistance

• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

• Education assistance programs

• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork flexibility and respect

We are all unique from various backgrounds and all walks of life yet one thing bonds all of us to each otherthe belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equalopportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race age sex (including pregnancy childbirth and related medical conditions) sexual orientation gender gender identity or expression colorreligiongeneticinformation marital status ancestry national origin protected veteran status physical disability medical condition mental disability or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If youre an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by emailat .You can also reviewKnow Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegalas well as thePay Transparency Policy Statement.