Flight Dynamicist

Leidos

. Develop and analyze 3DOF and 6DOF flight dynamics models to evaluate vehicle performance, stability, controllability, and mission effectiveness across the full flight envelope.

Posted 10/7/2026full-timeUnited StatesSeniorLead💰 $107,900 - $195,050 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in flight dynamics, trajectory analysis, and guidance and control systems, with a strong foundation in aerospace engineering principles. Proficient in developing high-fidelity simulations and conducting multidisciplinary trade studies to inform system-level design recommendations.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Flight Dynamics AnalysisTrajectory OptimizationGuidance And Control AlgorithmsModeling And SimulationAerospace Engineering

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

3DOF Vehicle Simulations6DOF Vehicle SimulationsFlight MechanicsOrbital MechanicsMass Properties AnalysisAerospace Vehicle PerformanceDigital EngineeringModel-Based Systems EngineeringMonte Carlo AnalysisUncertainty Quantification

Soft Skills

CollaborationTechnical CommunicationProblem Solving

Tools & Technologies

MATLAB/SimulinkPythonSTKGMATFORTRANC/C++

Certifications & Qualifications

Active Secret Security ClearanceActive TS Clearance

Industry Keywords

Hypersonic SystemsMissile SystemsSpace VehiclesLaunch VehiclesReentry VehiclesDoD ProgramsAFRLMDANASASpace Force

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

PythonTypeScriptC++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

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.
Design, implement, and validate guidance, navigation, and control algorithms.
Develop high-fidelity simulations and digital engineering models for concept development, requirements analysis, mission planning, system design, verification, and test activities.
Conduct aerodynamic, propulsion, mass properties, and environmental sensitivity analyses.
Perform flight mechanics analyses including stability and control, separation dynamics, staging events, atmospheric flight, reentry, and orbital mission operations.
Develop and integrate mission-level models within modeling and simulation frameworks 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.
Collaborate with aerodynamics, propulsion, thermal, systems engineering, software, and mission analysis teams.
Support technical proposals, customer engagements, concept studies, and strategic growth initiatives.
Present technical results, trade studies, and recommendations to leadership, customers, and stakeholders.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited institution.
Minimum 8-10 years of experience in flight dynamics, trajectory analysis, mission design, guidance and control, modeling and simulation, or related aerospace engineering disciplines.
Demonstrated experience developing and analyzing 3DOF and/or 6DOF vehicle simulations.
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.
Experience performing multidisciplinary trade studies and translating analytical results into system-level design recommendations.
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 higher clearances as required.
Preferred: Master's Degree or PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related discipline.
Preferred: Experience supporting hypersonic systems, missile systems, space vehicles, launch vehicles, reentry vehicles, or advanced weapons programs.
Preferred: Experience with digital engineering, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), or integrated modeling and simulation environments.
Preferred: Experience supporting flight test programs including mission planning, trajectory reconstruction, and post-flight analysis.
Preferred: Familiarity with guidance, navigation, and control design, Monte Carlo analysis, uncertainty quantification, and optimization techniques.
Preferred: Experience supporting DoD, AFRL, MDA, NASA, Space Force, Navy, or Air Force aerospace programs.
Preferred: Active TS Clearance.