The Aerospace Corporation

Flight Dynamics Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation$110K — $165K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or related field
  • 5+ years of experience in flight mechanics, astrodynamics, maneuver optimization
  • Experience in space-relevant TTPs development
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as C, C++, Fortran, Python, and MATLAB
  • Ability to work independently under ambiguity and maintain high-quality outputs
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a US security clearance

Responsibilities

  • Design and optimize trajectories for launch vehicles and spacecraft
  • Conduct astrodynamics and orbital mechanics analysis
  • Evaluate mission applications for space systems to assess threats
  • Develop space warfighting tactics aligned with military priorities
  • Create maneuver and orbit designs for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations
  • Support nominal launch and spacecraft deployment operations
  • Utilize programming skills to modernize capabilities

Benefits

  • Hybrid work model with on-site requirements
  • Opportunities to work with defense, intelligence, and commercial organizations
  • Range of inter-department collaboration in advanced aerospace problems
  • Exposure to cutting-edge technology in national space enterprise
  • Development of critical operational support skills
Full Job Description

The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The divisionleveragesa 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 space-enabled capabilities.

As a corecomponentof EED, the Earth Orbit Flight Dynamics Department (EOFDD) providesflight mechanicsexpertisefor launch vehiclesand space vehicles.Relevant skillsinclude orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, trajectory design and optimization, and atmospheric flight modeling and simulation.We are looking for aSenior Member of the Technical StafforEngineering Specialist to join the EOFDD team.The selected candidate willprovideexpertisefor 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 tofacilitateintegrated solutions for our customers92 hardest problems. Customers will includedefense, intelligence, and civil and commercialorganizations.

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 least4days a week onsite, as the business needs allow.

WhatYou92llBe Doing

Primary Support

  • Trajectory design and optimization for launch vehicles and spacecraft for missionsoperatingin 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

  • Evaluating contestedmissionsapplications for space systems to understand threat performance, assess vulnerabilities, and improve system resiliency

  • Develop space warfighting tactics aligned to the Chief of Space Operations (CSO)and Commander of US SPACECOMpriorities by providing technical, operational, and risk assessments

  • Maneuver and orbit design,selection, and optimization for missions that support Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO)objectiveswith 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 on-call emerging events

  • Utilizingoptimalcontrol, flight mechanics, and computer science/algorithm development skills to create new capabilitiesand modernize existing capabilitiesto service customer requests as stand-alone services and/or ready-to-integrate submodules

  • Leveraging external tools like ASSET, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, EMTG, etc. whereappropriate toaugment internally developed capabilities

  • Communicating effectively with customers and management throughtimelyreporting of technical issues, analysis reports, and recommendations

Additionalinter-department partnership collaborations opportunities:

  • Cislunar and exploration-class orbital mechanics analysis and trajectory optimization

  • Hypersonics, missiles, interceptors, and reentry vehicle trajectory design and optimization

  • Time-dependent Traveling Salesman Problems and Facility Location Problem analysis

  • Integrated, multi-disciplinary RPO system simulations

What You Need to be Successful

MinimumRequirements for theSeniorMember of the Technical Staff 6 Flight Mechanics position:

  • Bachelor92s degree in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related disciplines

  • Five or moreyearsof experience in flight mechanics, astrodynamics, maneuver optimization, trajectory optimization, launch vehicle trajectory design, hypersonic vehicle modeling, or general trajectory modeling and simulation

  • Experience in space-relevantTTPs development, operational planning, or battle management

  • Proficiencyin one or more of the following programming languages and environments: C, C++, Fortran, Python, Linux,Java,and/or MATLAB

  • The ability tooperateindependently, often in the presence of ambiguity, and still deliver high-quality, innovative, and specialized end products to a range of customers

  • Willing to traveldomesticallyapprox.10%

  • The ability to obtain andmaintainaUS security clearance isrequired. U.S citizenship isrequiredto obtain a security clearance.

  • The ability to obtain andmaintaina TS clearance (SSBI) with SCI access is strongly preferred (applicant will besubmittedfor this clearance upon hiring if they do not currentlypossessit)

In addition to the above, theminimumrequirements for theEngineering Specialist 6 FlightMechanicspositioninclude:

  • Eightor moreyears of experience of relevant technical workor PhD

  • Demonstrated technical excellence in the relevantjobcapabilitiesand functions

  • The ability tooperateindependently, often in the presence of ambiguity, and still deliver high quality, relevant end products to a range of customers

  • The ability to build and perform on multi-disciplinary teamsto deliver integrated analysis products

How You Can Stand Out

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

  • Advanced degree inaeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related disciplines is strongly desired

  • Graduatelevelcourse work,researchand/or experience in one or more of the following areas:orbitalmechanics,astrodynamics, ascent trajectory modeling, hypersonic flight simulation,optimalcontrol, flight mechanics,and/ortrajectory modeling and simulation

  • Experienceusing orbuilding analysis software to combine numerical methods, orbital or flight mechanics, and optimization approaches for launch vehicles,missiles, interceptors,spacecraft, or reentry vehicles(hypersonics)

  • Familiarity with National Security Space Enterprise operational communities and experience with translating warfighter needs into analysis frameworks.

  • Experience with nonlinear programming (non-linear programming), direct methods, gradient-based 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

  • Experience with contested space trajectory applications, military exercises,and wargaming events

  • Current TS/SCIand/orTS/SAP Access

We offer a competitive compensation package where you92ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based 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.

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About The Aerospace Corporation

The Aerospace Corporation is a nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) headquartered in El Segundo, California. The corporation provides technical guidance and advice on all aspects of space missions to military, civil, and commercial customers. Aerospace also designs and develops spacecraft, sensors, and other systems in support of national security, civil, and commercial customers. The corporation has more than 4,000 employees and operates a number of laboratories and test facilities across the United States.
Learn more about The Aerospace Corporation
Size
4,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1960

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