Flight Dynamicist

About the role

Leidos’ Defense Systems Advanced Development Organization is seeking a talented Flight Dynamicist to join our team to create unique solutions for complex problems. With offices across the United States engaging in the defense, space, cyber and commercial fields, Leidos provides responsive, cost-effective engineering, scientific and IT solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and analyze 3DOF and 6DOF flight dynamics models to evaluate vehicle performance, stability, controllability, and mission effectiveness across the full flight envelope.
• Perform trajectory design, optimization, and trade studies for hypersonic, missile, launch vehicle, and space systems, balancing performance, range, payload, thermal, and operational constraints.
• Design, implement, and validate guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) algorithms including autopilot logic, trajectory shaping, target engagement, and terminal guidance functions.
• Develop high-fidelity simulations and digital engineering models to support concept development, requirements analysis, mission planning, system design, verification, and test activities.
• Conduct aerodynamic, propulsion, mass properties, and environmental sensitivity analyses to assess vehicle performance and identify key design drivers and technical risks.
• Perform flight mechanics analyses including stability and control assessments, separation dynamics, staging events, atmospheric flight, reentry, and orbital mission operations as applicable.
• Develop and integrate mission-level models within modeling and simulation frameworks, digital engineering environments, and hardware-in-the-loop or software-in-the-loop test architectures.
• Support flight test planning, pre-flight predictions, post-flight reconstruction, and data analysis activities to validate models and improve system performance.
• Collaborate across disciplines including aerodynamics, propulsion, thermal, systems engineering, software, and mission analysis teams to translate requirements into executable vehicle designs.
• Present technical results, trade studies, and recommendations to internal leadership, customers, and stakeholders through briefings, reports, and design reviews.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited institution.
• Minimum 2-4 years of experience in flight dynamics, trajectory analysis, mission design, guidance and control, modeling and simulation, or related aerospace engineering disciplines.
• Strong understanding of flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, trajectory optimization, vehicle stability and control, mass properties, and aerospace vehicle performance.
• Experience with aerospace modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB/Simulink, Python, STK, GMAT, FORTRAN, C/C++, or similar engineering software environments.
• Demonstrated capability establishing data pipeline transformations, executing batch simulation runs, or debugging continuous integration test sequences.
• Ability to work effectively within cross-functional engineering teams in a fast-paced development environment.
• Experience supporting technical proposals, customer interactions, and engineering reviews.
• Active Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain TS, as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related discipline.
• Experience supporting hypersonic systems, missile systems, space vehicles, launch vehicles, reentry vehicles, or advanced weapons programs.
• Experience creating automated device tracking architectures, signal capture setups, or localized RF / wireless detection configurations within secured engineering environments.
• Hands-on experience configuring hardware interfaces, firmware execution (e.g., microcontrollers, embedded single-board computers), or mechanical prototyping layouts.
• Familiarity with collaborative design suites, parameter manipulation, and distributed configuration tooling (such as Onshape, Fusion 360, or Solid Edge).

Skills

• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink, Python, STK, GMAT, FORTRAN, C/C++, or similar engineering software environments.
• Experience with aerospace modeling and simulation tools.
• Strong understanding of flight mechanics, orbital mechanics, trajectory optimization, vehicle stability and control, mass properties, and aerospace vehicle performance.
• Experience with flight dynamics, trajectory analysis, mission design, guidance and control, modeling and simulation.
• Collaborative problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.

Benefits

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Pay

$87,100.00 - $157,450.00

Schedule

N/A