Flight Analysis Engineer II

Description

The role is based at the Long Beach, CA office of a fast-growing end-to-end space company that builds rockets, spacecraft and critical subsystems.

You will work on trajectory simulation, modelling, analysis and testing for launches and missions, helping to keep launches safe and supporting mission design and operations.

You will work with teams across the company and with external agencies.

The flight analysis team builds methods, software tools, data packages and technical reports covering flight safety and launch availability for Electron and HASTE missions.

You will sit on the Global Launch Services Mission Formulation Team, alongside Engineering, Production and Operations, turning new launch concepts into flying missions.

The team also formulates and carries out classified missions on Electron and HASTE vehicles.

The team works to tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Define how launches and missions will operate, and develop the concepts behind them.
• Design and analyse orbital and suborbital trajectories.
• Gather mission-specific requirements with external stakeholders and customers.
• Support hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing to confirm trajectory and flight safety system settings.
• Run Monte Carlo simulations to define and verify launch and mission operations.
• Carry out flight safety analyses before launch and support the team on launch day.
• Write bespoke mission safety rules.
• Confirm that AFTS (Autonomous Flight Termination System) hardware and software are ready.
• Build tools and processes that automate routine modelling and analysis work.
• Work directly with Business Development on proposals and mission definition.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in engineering, in aerospace, mechanical or electrical engineering.
• Experience with numerical modelling and simulation, probability and statistics, multi-physics, or a similar analysis field.
• Experience analysing data with Python, SciPy or similar tools.
• Experience developing on Linux.
• Working knowledge of atmospheric flight, flight dynamics and/or orbital mechanics.
• Experience using Git version control, such as git, GitHub or GitLab.
• Ability to obtain and keep a DoD US Government Secret security clearance.
• Nice to have: an active TS/SCI clearance.
• Nice to have: an advanced degree in engineering, in aerospace, mechanical or electrical engineering.
• Nice to have: experience with C/C++.
• Nice to have: experience with mission analysis, trajectory optimisation, and vehicle design and simulation tools.
• Nice to have: experience with RF simulation, modelling and link budget analysis.
• Nice to have: experience with software and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing and related systems.
• Nice to have: experience with FAA regulations, processes and compliance methods for flight safety (CFR part 417 and/or part 450).
• Nice to have: experience with Autonomous Flight Termination Systems (AFTS) and the design of associated flight rules.
• Nice to have: experience building 3DOF atmospheric propagators.
• Nice to have: experience with Python scripting.
• Nice to have: educational knowledge of RF or electrical systems.
• Nice to have: the ability to work on your own initiative and plan your daily workflow to finish larger tasks.
• Nice to have: experience on fast-moving design and development projects.
• Nice to have: strong communication skills and the ability to build good working relationships.

Conditions

Total compensation (base and equity) is $125,000 to $161,000 USD.

Base salary is $115,000 to $144,000 USD.

Level and base pay are set case by case, based on job-related knowledge and skills, education and experience.

Equity grant value is set by function, level, experience and other factors; the value you realise depends on vesting and stock price.

US offices only: to meet ITAR rules on US government space technology, you must be a US citizen, a lawful permanent resident, lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum, or eligible to obtain authorisation from the US Department of State and/or Department of Commerce, as applicable.

New Zealand offices only: background checks, including nationality checks, are run before any offer. You must be eligible to access ITAR-regulated equipment and data, and you may be ineligible if you are not a citizen of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the European Union or a NATO country, or if you hold ineligible dual citizenship or nationality.

Benefits

• Company stock as part of total compensation, alongside competitive base pay.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program with a 15% discount on company stock.
• Medical plans: HMO, PPO, and a zero-cost HDHP with a significant company contribution to the HSA.
• Dental and vision cover.
• Paid vacation and sick time, plus 11 paid holidays.
• Flexible spending and dependent care accounts.
• Paid parental leave.
• Disability and life insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Subsidised EV charging.
• Onsite fitness centres where available, and discounted gym memberships.
• Complimentary snacks and drinks.
• 50% employee discount on the merch store, plus other employee discounts.