Principal Flight Dynamics Engineer I

CesiumAstro•Austin, TX 78701, US• Contract

Posted 1 hour ago• Software

Job Description

Please Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

At CesiumAstro, we are developers and pioneers of out-of-the-box communication systems for satellites, UAVs, launch vehicles, and other space and airborne platforms. We take pride in our dynamic and cross-functional work environment, which allows us to learn, develop, and engage across our organization. If you are looking for hands-on, interactive, and autonomous work, CesiumAstro is the place for you. We are actively seeking passionate, collaborative, energetic, and forward-thinking individuals to join our team.

We are seeking a Principal Flight Dynamics Engineer I to lead orbit design, trajectory analysis, and orbit determination analysis efforts across our spacecraft operations. You will own the flight dynamics function from early mission concept through launch, commissioning, and on-orbit operations. This role requires deep technical expertise, strong cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to build scalable tools and processes in a fast-paced startup environment.

You will play a critical role in shaping mission architecture, ensuring orbital safety and compliance, and enabling reliable spacecraft operations. You will work closely with the engineering team, program management to ensure the successful build and launch of our satellite. Element will be the largest, most powerful rideshare satellite in LEO. We’re launching eight of them in the next four years, starting with our first launch this year. Together, our small team will design, build, and iterate to reduce mass and cost while increasing performance, reliability, and manufacturability of a new generation of satellites. Let’s build!

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead orbit design, trade studies, and trajectory optimization for LEO/GEO/cislunar/deep space missions (as applicable).

Develop and maintain high-fidelity mission analysis models.

Perform launch window analysis, injection targeting, and dispersions analysis.

Define and validate ΔV budgets across all mission phases.

Support constellation design, station-keeping strategies, and end-of-life disposal planning.

Develop orbit determination strategies using tracking data (GNSS, radiometric, optical, etc.).

Support maneuver planning, targeting, and execution analysis.

Establish conjunction assessment and collision avoidance processes.

Support mission readiness reviews, launch campaigns, and on-orbit anomaly resolution.

Build, validate, and maintain flight dynamics tools and simulation environments.

Automate analysis workflows to scale with company growth.

Integrate tools with GNC, FSW, and mission operations pipelines.

Evaluate and implement industry-standard tools (e.g., GMAT, STK, ODTK, MONTE, custom Python/C++ frameworks).

Collaborate closely with GNC, propulsion, systems engineering, and mission operations teams.

Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers.

Contribute to technical roadmaps and long-term mission strategy.

Interface with customers, partners, and regulatory agencies as needed.

JOB REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Astrodynamics, Physics, or related field (M.S. or Ph.D. preferred).

9 years of experience in flight dynamics, mission analysis, or astrodynamics.

Deep understanding of orbital mechanics and perturbation modeling, orbit determination and estimation techniques, maneuver design and optimization, and conjunction assessment and space traffic management

Experience supporting real spacecraft missions through launch and operations.

Strong programming skills (Python required; MATLAB, C++, or similar a plus).

Experience with industry-standard astrodynamics tools.

Ability to work independently in a high-ownership environment.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE

Experience with small satellite or constellation missions.

Background in autonomous navigation or onboard orbit determination.

Familiarity with regulatory compliance (FCC, NOAA, ITU, Space-Track, etc.).

Experience building internal analysis frameworks from scratch.

CesiumAstro considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. Full-time employment offers include company stock options and a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life, disability and retirement plans.

CesiumAstro is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Please note: CesiumAstro does not accept unsolicited resumes from contract agencies or search firms. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our website or to CesiumAstro team members will be considered property of CesiumAstro, and we will not be obligated to pay any referral fees.