The Aerospace Corporation

Multi-Domain Trajectory Design Engineer/Senior Multi-Domain Trajectory Design Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation$129K — $249K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Mathematics, or related technical discipline.
  • 8+ years of relevant technical experience.
  • Knowledge in space mission analysis, advanced astrodynamics, and algorithm design.
  • Proficiency in programming languages such as C, C++, Python, and MATLAB.
  • Ability to support multiple programs simultaneously and serve as a key technical point-of-contact.
  • Strong leadership and mentorship capabilities.
  • Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

  • Design and optimize trajectories for hypersonic systems and reentry vehicles.
  • Conduct simulations and performance analysis for missile systems.
  • Develop multi-domain mission designs for orbital and atmospheric transit.
  • Determine constrained optimal controls for aerodynamically influenced vehicles.
  • Evaluate missions in contested space conditions through threat assessments and resiliency improvements.
  • Create CONOPS and explore operational constraints for various space systems.
  • Develop new capabilities in flight mechanics and algorithm solutions.

Benefits

  • Flexible work model with 4+ onsite days per week and remote flexibility as needed.
  • Opportunities for professional development in cutting-edge aerospace technologies.
  • Work on high-impact projects with government and commercial customers.
  • Participation in complex, cross-domain missions with significant national importance.
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 diverse and 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 Emerging Missions Flight Dynamics Department (EMFDD) provides flight mechanicsexpertisefor the cislunar domain, multi-objective2traveling salesman2 trajectory sequence generation, facility location optimization, and trans-atmosphericflight design formissiles,hyperglidevehicles, and reentry vehicles. Relevant skills include orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, trajectory design and optimization, and atmospheric flight modeling and simulation. We are seeking an Engineering Specialist/Senior Engineering Specialist to join the EMFDD team. The selected candidate will provideexpertisefor a wide range of customer flight mechanics needs, supporting analysis, research, and development requests. The work will require candidates to provide deep technical solutions while also collaborating with engineering partners tofacilitateintegrated solutions for our customers27 hardest problems. Customers will include defense, intelligence, and civil and commercial organizations.

Work Model

  • This is a full-time positionbased in El Segundo, CA,Huntsville, AL, or Albuquerque, NM, offering an in-person work model that combines 4 or more regular onsite workdays per week and remote flexibility as business needs allow.

WhatYou27llbe Doing:

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

  • Constrainedoptimalcontrol determination for vehicles with aerodynamic and/or propulsive forces (chemical, electric, other)

  • Contested space mission evaluation: threat assessment, vulnerability analysis, and system resiliency improvement

  • CONOPS development, TTP exploration, and operational constraint integration for space, near-space, and reentry systems

  • Development of new capabilities usingoptimalcontrol, flight mechanics, and algorithm development for stand-alone services and integration-ready submodules

  • Algorithm and software R&D tomaintainmodern internal tool base

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

Additionalsupportopportunities:

  • Cislunar and exploration-class trajectory optimizationand application of dynamical systems theory

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

  • Reentry risk and range safety assessments

  • Astrodynamics analysis: orbit propagation, maneuver design/optimization for orbit transfer, station keeping, graveyard, disposal, and reentry

  • Operational support for nominal launch, spacecraft deployment/transfer, anomaly resolution, and emerging events

  • Maneuver and orbit design/optimization for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) with complex constraints

  • Trajectory design and optimization for launch vehicles and spacecraft for missionsoperatingin LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, and other earth-centric regimes

What You Need to be Successful

MinimumRequirementsforEngineering SpecialistFlight Mechanics:

  • Bachelor27s degree from an accredited program in Engineering, Science, Mathematics,or related technical discipline.

  • Typicallyeight or more years of experience of relevant technical work

  • Experience in one or more of the following subjects:space mission analysis and design,advancedastrodynamics, algorithm design, software development, or mathematical modeling,multi-objective optimization,trajectory simulation and performance optimization of spacecraft, missiles, and reentry vehicles

  • Proficiencywith one or more of the following programming languages/tools: C, C++, Python, Fortran, MATLAB.

  • Ability to support multiple programs and/or activities simultaneously and toserveas a technical point-of-contact.

  • Demonstrated technical team leadership and mentorship skills.

  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.

  • Willing to travel domestically to customer and contractor facilities(approx. 10%)

  • This position requires the ability to obtain andmaintaina security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship isrequiredto obtain a security clearance.

In addition to the above, theminimumrequirements for theSeniorEngineering SpecialistFlight Mechanicspositioninclude:

  • Twelveor moreyears of experienceofrelevanttechnicalwork

  • The ability tolead and execute large and sustained technical effortswith vision to propose, scope, and coordinate these efforts across organizational boundaries

How You Can Stand Out

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

  • Graduate degree and/or research or professional experience in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or related field.

  • 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 (non-linear programming), directtranscriptionmethodsfor control optimization, gradient-based optimization, parameter optimization, genetic algorithms, evolutionary algorithms, heuristic optimization methods, indirect methods, and/or calculus of variations

  • Experience with multi-disciplinary design and optimization (MDO) techniques for aerospace vehicles

  • Demonstrated success in project/team leadership roles while managing resources, staffing, and technical milestones and deliveries

  • Advanced algorithm development skills to include parallel processing and scripting experience

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

  • Ability to build and foster effective working relationships with customers, contractors, Federally Funded Research & Development Center (FFRDC)and other personnel.

  • Experience directlyinterfacing withsenior government customers.

  • Experience in spacecraft or launch operations.

  • Current SSBI with an active TS/SCI clearance.

  • Current SAPaccess.

We offer a competitive compensation package where you27ll 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.

(Min - Max)

$129,000.00 - $249,600.00

Pay Basis: Annual

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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