Flight Dynamics Engineer

ABOUT FIREFLY AEROSPACE

As an end-to-end space transportation company, Firefly Aerospace is on a mission to enable our world to launch, land, and operate in space anywhere, anytime. Our launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide government and commercial customers with full mission services from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond. Headquartered in north Austin, Texas, Firefly is looking for passionate, hardworking innovators to join our team and help fuel our successful trajectory into space.

SUMMARY

Join the Firefly team as a Flight Dynamics Engineer, where youll apply your expertise in astrodynamics, orbit determination, and trajectory optimization to drive the success of groundbreaking space missions. In this dynamic role, you'll take the lead in designing cutting-edge software tools and innovative procedures that power the operation of both Earth-orbiting and interplanetary spacecraft. Collaborating with a tight-knit, high-energy team, you'll have the opportunity to shape mission outcomes and communicate vital mission analysis to diverse groups of stakeholders, all while making a real impact in the fast-paced world of space exploration.

This is an on-site role, located in Cedar Park, TX!

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Use ranging techniques to perform orbit determination of spacecraft
• Design, analyze, and execute orbital maneuvers for spacecraft
• Advance the state-of-the-art of Firefly tools and software for trajectory design, maneuver planning, and orbit determination
• Define, develop, and maintain the interfaces between a flight dynamics system and other components of ground-based operations, as well as external data providers
• Utilize Monte Carlo techniques for maneuver-planning and trajectory analysis
• Cross-train other team members in the use of operational software and procedures
• Perform occasional shift work and on-call support for launch and early orbit phase operations or collision avoidance maneuver planning

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• A Bachelors degree in engineering or physics and 5+ years of relevant work experience
• An advanced understanding of orbital mechanics
• Significant work experience in astrodynamics, orbit determination, or trajectory optimization
• Experience working in an operational environment, especially with spacecraft missions requiring real-time orbit determination and maneuver planning
• Proficiency or familiarity with Python
• Experience with version-control software
• Excellent communication and presentation skills