Flight Dynamics Engineer

About the Company

At AstroForge, our mission is to make space resources accessible on Earth. We mine asteroids to extract valuable minerals in space at a lower cost and with a smaller carbon footprint than current terrestrial mining methods. We offer a unique opportunity to join an exciting team looking to expand humanity’s capabilities in space.

Job Description: 

As a Flight Dynamics Engineer at AstroForge, you will have a unique opportunity to support the creation of the first successful asteroid-mining vehicle. You will collaborate across engineering disciplines to design and implement advanced navigation filters, pioneer the use of commercial ground stations for deep space tracking, and contribute to mission design and mission operations. Your expertise will be a key enabler for the success of our interplanetary missions.

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Responsibilities:

• Build orbit determination pipelines using real-time data from multiple global commercial ground stations to navigate interplanetary space.
• Design and implement advanced navigation filters for spacecraft orbit determination, including Extended and Unscented Kalman filters.
• Develop, validate, and utilize measurement models for deep space tracking.
• Test and validate navigation systems in both simulated and real-world environments.
• Develop software tools that support trajectory design, mission planning, orbit determination, and mission operations.
• Support spacecraft flight operations as a Flight Dynamics subject matter expert, including monitoring and troubleshooting navigation performance and optimizing maneuver design.
• Document designs, simulations, and test results to ensure traceability and reproducibility.
• Stay updated on mission design and navigation technology advancements and apply relevant innovations to improve system performance.

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Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field; advanced degree (Master's or Ph.D.) preferred.
• Strong knowledge of navigation filter design and practical implementation.
• Experience with flight dynamics, mission operations, or orbit determination.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or MATLAB.
• Experience with orbit determination, navigation, and flight dynamics simulation tools and software.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary, fast-paced environment.
• Prior experience in the aerospace industry, particularly in space missions, is a plus.
• Prior experience with radiometric measurement types, especially in deep space, is a plus.
• Ability to work on-site in Seal Beach, CA.

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Benefits

• Full healthcare benefits 
• Life insurance coverage
• Retirement savings plan – 401(k), with company match
• Stock options in AstroForge

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Salary

100k -160k

ITAR RequirementsTo comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.We are an equal-opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.