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Varda Space Industries · 19 hours ago

Senior Astrodynamics Engineer

El Segundo, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level

$155K/yr - $185K/yr

5+ years exp

Varda Space Industries is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, with a mission to expand the economic bounds of humankind. The Senior Astrodynamics Engineer will lead the design and implementation of mission planning and orbital mechanics profiles for reentry vehicles, working closely with a multidisciplinary team to ensure accurate and reliable trajectory design.

AerospaceManufacturingProduct Design

No H1B

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for the reentry of a next generation space vehicle

Design spacecraft trajectories and produce orbital analyses for commercial reentry vehicles

Optimize trajectories based on fuel, time, and/or performance characteristics

Work closely with propulsion, software and flight operations teams to ensure vehicle and mission objectives are accomplished in the vehicle design

Design and implementation of autonomous satellite navigational solutions, collision avoidance, orbital rendezvous, and atmospheric re-entry algorithms

Running Monte Carlo analysis to characterize performance of new features

Lead the development of new vehicle capabilities

Support in-orbit operations as trajectory specialist, including coordination with other spacecraft operators and 3rd party entities

Qualification

Trajectory designOrbital mechanicsC++ programmingPython programmingModelingSimulationSystem engineeringCommunication skillsTeamwork skillsProject managementProblem-solving

Required

Teamwork skills are necessary to solve problems in a collaborative environment

Ability to scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems

Develop 6 degree of freedom vehicle simulation using C++ and Python

Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for the reentry of a space capsule

Mission specific analysis for customer launch and in support of business development

B.S. degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, physics, or related field

5+ proven years of experience, or PhD with 3+ years of relevant experience

Demonstrated knowledge in designing, modeling, testing, and flying orbital trajectories or aerospace guidance, navigation, and control systems

Strong software and model development skills, particularly in C++/Python/Matlab

Understanding of orbital mechanics, modeling and simulation, and software development

Experience anchoring/fitting first principles models to test data or high-fidelity external simulations

Proven system engineering and configuration management skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

Understanding of multi-body dynamics, flexible body dynamics, gas dynamics, fluids, and thermodynamics

Experience developing and verifying physical models for the purpose of control design, component sizing, and system performance evaluation

Experience supporting flight test or flying spacecraft

Ability to continuously manage risk and provide solutions with lean software development techniques

Experience with project management for cradle-to-grave projects

Prior work in a technical leadership role for a launch vehicle or satellite development effort

Prior work in a startup or agile development environment

Capability to solve complex problems autonomy as an individual or as a member of an integrated team

Passion for advancing the commercial space industry

Benefits

Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side

Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)

401(k) matching (interns excluded)

Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)

Health insurance, including Vision and Dental

Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.

Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)

Company

Varda Space Industries

Varda is building the infrastructure for a thriving orbital economy, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.

Founded in 2021

El Segundo, California, USA

51-200 employees