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Aerospace Dynamics Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Aerospace Engineer-SDA

Dahlgren, VA · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

Aerospace Engineer-SDA Requisition ID: TA189 Location: Dahlgren, VA Application Deadline: We are ... Familiarity with spacecraft flight dynamics modeling and simulation and/or spacecraft flight ...

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Aerospace Dynamics information

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$21.5K

$110.1K

$156K

How much do aerospace dynamics jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for aerospace dynamics in the United States is $110,056.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,000.00 and $119,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in Aerospace Dynamics, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Aerospace Dynamics often encounter challenges such as managing complex simulations, adapting to rapidly evolving technology, and ensuring compliance with strict industry regulations. Collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams—such as aerodynamics, structural engineering, and systems integration—is crucial for overcoming these hurdles. Staying updated through continuous learning, leveraging advanced simulation tools, and maintaining clear communication channels with team members can help address these challenges and lead to successful project outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Aerospace Dynamics, and why are they important?

To thrive in Aerospace Dynamics, a solid background in physics, advanced mathematics, and mechanical or aerospace engineering is essential, often supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with simulation software like MATLAB, ANSYS, or CFD tools, as well as knowledge of industry standards, is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective teamwork and communication skills help professionals excel in this field. These competencies ensure the ability to design, analyze, and optimize aerospace systems for safety, efficiency, and innovation.

What is the difference between Aerospace Dynamics vs Aerospace Engineering?

AspectAerospace DynamicsAerospace Engineering
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Aerospace DynamicsBachelor's or Master's in Aerospace, Mechanical, or Aerospace Engineering
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, simulation centers, aerospace companiesDesign offices, manufacturing plants, research labs
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily in aerospace research, flight simulation, and vehicle stabilityDesign, development, and testing of aircraft and spacecraft

While both roles involve aerospace concepts, Aerospace Dynamics focuses on the analysis of flight stability, control, and vehicle behavior, often using simulations. Aerospace Engineering encompasses a broader scope, including design, development, and manufacturing of aircraft and spacecraft. Understanding these distinctions helps professionals choose the right career path or specialization within the aerospace industry.

What is aerospace dynamics?

Aerospace dynamics is the study of the motion of air and other gases, and how these forces interact with aircraft and spacecraft. This field covers both aerodynamics, which focuses on the behavior of objects moving through Earth's atmosphere, and astronautics, which deals with motion in space. Professionals in aerospace dynamics analyze forces such as lift, drag, thrust, and stability to design safer and more efficient vehicles. Their work is critical for the development of airplanes, helicopters, rockets, and satellites.
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Infographic showing various Aerospace Dynamics job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,056 per year, or $52.9 per hour.
Flight Dynamics Engineer

Flight Dynamics Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation

Huntsville, AL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 hours ago


Job 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.

The Enterprise Effects Division (EED) drives integration of Aerospace's strategic capabilities across the national space enterprise. The divisionleveragesa broad array of engineering disciplines against a diverse and 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.

As a corecomponentof EED, the Emerging Missions Flight Dynamics Department (EMFDD) provides flight mechanicsexpertisefor the cislunar domain, multi-objective"traveling salesman" trajectory sequence generation, facility location optimization, and trans-atmosphericflight design formissiles,hyperglidevehicles, and reentry vehicles. Relevant skills include orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, trajectory design and optimization, and atmospheric flight modeling and simulation. The selected candidate will provideexpertisefor a wide range of customer flightmechanicsneeds, supporting analysis, research, and development requests. The work will require candidates to provide deep technical solutions while also collaborating with engineering partners tofacilitateintegrated solutions for our customers' hardest problems. Customers will include defense, intelligence, and civil and commercial organizations.

Work Model

  • This is a full-time positionbased in El Segundo, CA,Albuquerque, NM,Colorado Springs, CO,Chantilly, VA or Huntsville, AL,offering an in-person work model that combines 4 or more regular onsite workdays per week and remote flexibility as business needs allow.

WhatYou'llbe Doing:

Primary Support

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

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

  • Time-dependent Traveling Salesman Problems and Facility Location Problem analysis

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

  • Analysis of vehicles with chemical and/or electric propulsion

  • Evaluating contestedmissionsapplications for space systems to understand threat performance, assess vulnerabilities, and improve system resiliency

  • Developing Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), exploring Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), and incorporating operational constraints into the design and maturation of spaceand near-spacesystems

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

  • Utilizingoptimalcontrol, 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

  • Performing research and development and building new flight dynamics tools to cultivate andmaintaina healthy and modern internal tool base

  • Leveraging external tools like ASSET, GPOPS-II, SNOPT, POST, OTIS, Copernicus, GMAT, EMTG, etc. whereappropriate toaugment internally developed capabilities

Additionalinter-department partnership collaborations opportunities:

  • Maneuver and orbit design,selection, and optimization for missions that support Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO)objectiveswith complex operational constraints

  • Trajectory design and optimization for launch vehicles and spacecraft for missionsoperatingin LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, and other earth-centric regimes

What You Need to be Successful

MinimumRequirementsforMember of Technical Staff- Flight Mechanics:

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited program in Engineering, Science, Mathematics,or related technical discipline.

  • At leasttwoyears of relevantprofessional,technical work experience.

  • Experience in one or more of the following subjects:space mission analysis and design,advancedastrodynamics, algorithm design, software development, or mathematical modeling,multi-objective optimization,trajectory simulation and performance optimization of spacecraft, missiles, and reentry vehicles

  • Proficiencywith one or more of the following programming languages/tools: C, C++, Python, Fortran, MATLAB.

  • Effective written and verbal communication skills.

  • Willing to travel domestically to customer and contractor facilities(approx. 10%)

  • This position requires the ability to obtain andmaintaina security clearance, which is issued by the US government. U.S citizenship isrequiredto obtain a security clearance.

In addition to the above, theminimumrequirements for Senior Member of Technical Staff - Flight Mechanics position include:

  • Five or more years of experience of relevant technical work

  • Demonstrated technical excellence in the relevant job capabilities and functions

  • The ability tooperateindependently, often in the presence of ambiguity, and still deliver high quality, relevant end products to a range of customers

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if youhaveone or more of these:

  • Graduate degree and/or research or professional experience in engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or related field.

  • Experience using or building analysis software to combine numerical methods, orbital or flight mechanics, and optimization approaches for launch vehicles, missiles, interceptors, spacecraft, or reentry vehicles (hypersonics)

  • Experience with nonlinear programming (non-linear programming), direct methods, gradient-based optimization, parameter optimization, genetic algorithms, evolutionary algorithms, heuristic optimization methods, indirect methods, and/or calculus of variations

  • Advanced algorithm development skills to include parallel processing and scripting experience

  • Experience with contested space trajectory applications, military exercises, and wargaming events

  • Ability to build and foster effective working relationships with customers, contractors, Federally Funded Research & Development Center (FFRDC)and other personnel.

  • Experience directlyinterfacing withsenior government customers.

  • Experience in spacecraft or launch operations.

  • Current SSBI with an active TS/SCI clearance.

  • Current SAPaccess.

We 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.

(Min - Max)

$95,200.00 - $165,500.00Pay Basis: Annual

Leadership Competencies

Our 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:

  • Operate Strategically
  • Lead Change
  • Engage with Impact
  • Foster Innovation
  • Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

  • Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

  • Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation

  • Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options

  • 401(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

  • Flexible spending accounts

  • Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

  • Relocation assistance

  • Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

  • Education assistance programs

  • An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We 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.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equalopportunity employer. 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,geneticinformation, 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 emailatpeoplemangmnt.mailbox@aero.org .You can also reviewKnow Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.