2027 Trajectory Optimization Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a 2027 Trajectory Optimization Engineer.

About the Role

As an operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), The Aerospace Corporation delivers innovative solutions across satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil, and commercial customers. The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The Emerging Missions Flight Dynamics (EMFD) Department, a core component of EED, provides flight mechanics expertise for various domains. The selected candidate will provide expertise for a wide range of customer flight mechanics needs, supporting analysis, research, and development requests. This role requires providing deep technical solutions while collaborating with engineering partners. Customers will include defense, intelligence, and civil and commercial organizations. The position requires full-time, on-site work.

Key Responsibilities

• Primary Support:

• Astrodynamics and orbital mechanics analysis, including orbit propagation, constellation design and optimization, and maneuver design and optimization for orbit transfer, station keeping, graveyard, disposal, and reentry events.

• Analysis of combinatorial optimization / sequential decision-making problems, such as the Traveling Salesman Problem, Facility Location Problem, Markov Decision Processes.

• Analysis of multi-objective optimization problems leveraging metaheuristic, mathematical programming, deterministic, and optimal control methods.

• Create, augment, and leverage flight mechanics centric software capabilities.

• Leverage external tools like SciPy, ASSET, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, EMTG, etc.

• Evaluate contested missions’ applications for space systems to understand threat performance, assess vulnerabilities, and improve system resiliency.

• Develop Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), explore Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), and incorporate operational constraints into the design and maturation of space and near-space systems.

• Provide operational support for nominal launch and spacecraft deployment and transfer sequences, anomaly resolution, and on-call emerging events.

• Inter-department Partnership Collaborations:

• Maneuver and orbit design, selection, and optimization for missions supporting Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) objectives.

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

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

• Analysis of vehicles with chemical and/or electric propulsion.

• Trajectory design and optimization for launch vehicles and spacecraft in various Earth-centric regimes (LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO).

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Programming Languages/Tools: Proficiency with one or more of the following: Python, C/C++, Fortran, MATLAB.
• Software: Experience leveraging external tools like SciPy, ASSET, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, EMTG.

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited college/university program in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related technical discipline.
• 0-1 year of industry work experience.
• Experience in one or more of the following subjects: space mission analysis and design, advanced astrodynamics, algorithm design, software development, mathematical modeling, multi-objective optimization, decision making under uncertainty, and/or trajectory simulation and performance optimization.
• Willing to travel domestically to customer and contractor facilities (approx. 10%).
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance (U.S. citizenship required).
• Transcripts required.

Preferred Qualifications (How You Can Stand Out)

• PhD degree from an accredited college/university program in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related technical discipline.
• Experience with sequential decision-making and optimization algorithms (e.g., Monte Carlo Tree Search, Markov Decision Processes, Reinforcement Learning, Genetic Algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimization).
• Experience with multi-objective optimization, linear/nonlinear programming, and/or gradient-based and indirect methods.
• Experience with reachable set analysis for dynamical systems.
• Experience building astrodynamics/flight mechanics analysis software with integrated optimization/decision-making algorithms.
• Experience with object-oriented programming, joint C++/Python development, and modern software development practices (e.g., Git/version control).
• Experience with contested space trajectory applications, military exercises, and wargaming events.
• Ability to build effective relationships with customers, contractors, and FFRDC personnel, including direct interface with senior government stakeholders.
• Current SSBI with active TS/SCI clearance and/or current SAP access.

Corporate Skills

• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Strong organizational, time management, and project management skills.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational needs.
• Interpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations.

Work Locations

Full-time, on-site at one of the following facilities:

• Colorado Springs, CO
• El Segundo, CA
• Chantilly, VA
• Albuquerque, NM