Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I Verified today
Senior Flight Dynamics Engineer I
Based in Long Beach, CA, you will perform tracking, navigation, maneuver, trajectory planning, and collision avoidance design and operations for Earth orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions. You'll solve complex problems, often under time-critical conditions, alongside subject matter experts from Systems, Ground Software, Electrical, Avionics, Flight Software, Thermal, Propulsion, and GNC disciplines.
What You'll Do
- Develop and analyze launch vehicle and spacecraft trajectories, including ascent, orbit insertion, and orbital maneuvers
- Perform orbital propagation, rendezvous planning, and station-keeping analysis for spacecraft operations
- Support mission design including launch window analysis, delta-V budgets, and contingency planning
- Interface with flight software and GNC teams to validate and optimize guidance profiles
- Generate and deliver trajectory data products and flight dynamics support for mission readiness reviews
- Contribute to development of in-house simulation tools and flight dynamics infrastructure
- Support real-time mission operations including anomaly response and post-launch data analysis
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Space Systems, or Software Engineering, or equivalent Engineering or Applied Physics degree
- 5+ years of experience in mission design and flight dynamics
- Understanding of orbital mechanics and orbit determination theory
- Mission analysis with STK, Astrogator, GMAT, Monte, Copernicus, or equivalent
- Python software development
- Git version control or equivalent
- Jira software project management or equivalent
- Active Secret clearance, or ability to obtain and maintain one
- U.S. citizenship required due to program requirements
Desirable Qualifications
- Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering or related field
- Active TS/SCI clearance
- Monte Carlo numerical simulation
- Orbit determination analysis with ODTK, Orekit, or equivalent
- Team and/or software project management experience
- Ability to work complex problems under time pressure
- Ability to prioritize tasks in consultation with multiple stakeholders
Compensation
- Base salary: $132,000-$198,000 USD
- Total compensation (base and equity): $152,000-$233,000 USD
- Company stock as part of total compensation package
- Employee Stock Purchase Program with 15% discount
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Paid vacation, sick time, and 11 paid holidays
- Paid parental leave
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match
- Subsidized EV charging, onsite fitness centers, gym discounts, complimentary snacks and beverages
This position may require prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate levels of noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.