The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s 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, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.
The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a diverse and dynamic portfolio of programs, customers, and national challenges within the space enterprise. EED spans the capability lifecycle from concept and architecture design to performance assessment to application of space and space-enabled capabilities.
As a core component of EED, the Earth Orbit Flight Dynamics Department (EOFDD) provides space flight mechanics expertise for launch vehicles and space vehicles. Relevant skills include orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, trajectory design and optimization, and trans atmospheric flight modeling and simulation. We are looking for a Member of the Technical Staff/Senior Member of the Technical Staff to join the EOFDD team . 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 will work at least 4 days a week onsite, as the business needs allow.
What You’ll Be Doing
Primary Support
Trajectory design and optimization for launch vehicles and spacecraft for missions operating in Earth-centric regimes (e.g., LEO, MEO, HEO, and GEO)
Astrodynamics and orbital mechanics analysis including orbit propagation, maneuver design, optimization for orbit transfer, stationkeeping, graveyard, disposal, and reentry events
Analysis of vehicles with chemical and/or electric propulsion
Evaluating contested mission applications for space systems to understand threat performance, assess vulnerabilities, and improve system resiliency
Exploring and defining the evolving Dynamic Space Operations (DSO) mission area
Maneuver and orbit design 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 on-call emerging events
Utilizing optimal control, flight mechanics, and computer science/algorithm development skills to create new capabilities to service customer requests as stand-alone services and/or ready-to-integrate submodules
Combining AI/ML/RL techniques with flight mechanics modeling for assessing complex analysis and decision-making trade spaces
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, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, EMTG, etc. where appropriate to augment internally developed capabilities
Additional inter-department partnership collaborations opportunities:
Cislunar and exploration-class orbital mechanics analysis and trajectory optimization
Hypersonics, missiles,…