{"id":3230666,"url":"https://alion.io/job/the-aerospace-corporation-2027-trajectory-optimization-engineer","title":"2027 Trajectory Optimization Engineer","company":{"id":58420,"name":"The Aerospace Corporation","domain":"aerospace.org","url":"https://alion.io/company/the-aerospace-corporation","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":79,"open_postings":59,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.814,"repost_share":0.034,"time_to_fill_p50_days":31,"computed_at":"2026-11-01T06:10:25Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"junior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Colorado Springs, United States","El Segundo, United States","Chantilly, United States","Albuquerque, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":86600,"max":150400,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":150400},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Fortran","optional":false},{"name":"Git","optional":false},{"name":"GMAT","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Reinforcement Learning","optional":false},{"name":"SciPy","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-21T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-21","last_verified_at":"2026-10-31T21:09:44Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":11,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":11},"description":"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.\nThe Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace’s strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The division leverages a broad array of engineering disciplines against a 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.\nAs a core component of EED, the Emerging Missions Flight Dynamics (EMFD) Department provides flight mechanics expertise for the cislunar domain, multi-objective “traveling salesman” trajectory sequence generation, facility location optimization, and trans-atmospheric flight design for missiles, hyperglide vehicles, and reentry vehicles. Relevant skills include orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, trajectory design and optimization, and atmospheric flight modeling and simulation. The selected candidate will provide expertise for 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 to facilitate integrated solutions for our customers’ hardest problems. Customers will include defense, intelligence, and civil and commercial organizations.\nThe selected candidate will be required to work full-time, on-site at our facility in Colorado Springs, CO; El Segundo, CA; Chantilly, VA; or Albuquerque, NM.\nWhat You’ll be Doing:\nPrimary Support\nAstrodynamics 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\nAnalysis of combinatorial optimization / sequential decision-making problems, such as the Traveling Salesman Problem, Facility Location Problem, Markov Decision Processes, etc.\nAnalysis of multi-objective optimization problems leveraging metaheuristic, mathematical programming, deterministic, and optimal control methods\nCreate, augment, and leverage flight mechanics centric software capabilities as stand-alone tools and ready-to-integrate submodules \nLeveraging external tools like SciPy, ASSET, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, EMTG, etc. where appropriate to augment internally developed capabilities \nEvaluate contested missions’ applications for space systems to understand threat performance, assess vulnerabilities, and improve system resiliency \nDeveloping Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), exploring Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), and incorporating operational constraints into the design and maturation of space and near-space systems \nProviding operational support for nominal launch and spacecraft deployment and transfer sequences, anomaly resolution, and on-call emerging events \nAdditional inter-department partnership collaborations opportunities:\nManeuver and orbit design, selection, and optimization for missions that support Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) objectives with complex operational constraints \nCislunar and exploration-class orbital mechanics analysis and trajectory optimization \nHypersonics, missiles, interceptors, and reentry vehicle trajectory design and optimization\nAnalysis of vehicles with chemical and/or electric propulsion \nTrajectory design and optimization for launch vehicles and spacecraft for missions operating in LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, and other earth-centric regimes\nDuties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned as needed \nWhat Corporate Skills You’ll Bring\nStrong written and oral communication skills \nMust work well in a team environment \nMust possess strong organizational, time management, and project management skills \nDemonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to changing organizational need \nInterpersonal skills to coordinate efforts and work with other internal and external organizations \nWhat You Need to be Successful\nMinimum Requirements:\nMaster's degree from an accredited college/university program in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related technical discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months) \n0-1 year of industry work experience\nExperience 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\nProficiency with one or more of the following programming languages/tools: Python, C/C++, Fortran, MATLAB.\nWilling to travel domestically to customer and contractor facilities (approx. 10%)\nThis position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.\nTranscripts\nHow You Can Stand Out\nIt would be impressive if you have one or more of these:\nPhD degree from an accredited college/university program in aeronautical/astronautical engineering, physics or applied mathematics, or related technical discipline (pursuing or conferred within last 12 months) \nExperience with sequential decision-making and optimization algorithms (ex: Monte Carlo Tree Search, Markov Decision Processes, Reinforcement Learning, Genetic Algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimization, etc.)\nExperience with multi-objective optimization, linear/nonlinear programming, and/or gradient-based and indirect methods\nExperience with reachable set analysis for dynamical systems\nExperience building astrodynamics/flight mechanics analysis software with integrated optimization/decision-making algorithms\nExperience with object-oriented programming, joint C++/Python development, and modern software development practices (ex: Git/version control)\nExperience with contested space trajectory applications, military exercises, and wargaming events\nAbility to build effective relationships with customers, contractors, and FFRDC personnel, including direct interface with senior government stakeholders\nCurrent SSBI with active TS/SCI clearance and/or current SAP access\nWe offer a competitive compensation package where you’ll 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.\n(Min - Max)\n$86,600.00 - $150,400.00Pay Basis: AnnualLeadership Competencies\nOur leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:\nOperate Strategically\nLead Change \nEngage with Impact \nFoster Innovation \nDeliver Results \nWays We Reward Our Employees\nDuring your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.\nBenefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:\nComprehensive health care and wellness plans\n\nPaid holidays, sick time, and vacation\n\nStandard and alternate work schedules, including telework options\n\n401(k) Plan - Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire\n\nFlexible spending accounts\n\nVariable pay program for exceptional contributions\n\nRelocation assistance\n\nProfessional growth and development programs to help advance your career\n\nEducation assistance programs\n\nAn inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect\n\nWe are all unique, from various backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other-the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.\nEqual Opportunity Commitment\nThe Aerospace Corporation is an equal opportunityemployer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information,marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at  . 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