Senior R&D Engineer - Astrodynamics/Trajectory Optimization
Location: Exton
Posted on: June 23, 2025
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Job Description:
When visionary companies need to know how their world-changing
ideas will perform, they close the gap between design and reality
with Ansys simulation. For more than 50 years, Ansys software has
enabled innovators across industries to push boundaries by using
the predictive power of simulation. From sustainable transportation
to advanced semiconductors, from satellite systems to life-saving
medical devices, the next great leaps in human advancement will be
powered by Ansys. Summary Ansys Government Initiatives (AGI) is
seeking an experienced, top-performing Senior Astrodynamics
Engineer to contribute to the design and development of its Systems
Tool Kit (STK) Astrogator tool. Astrogator provides everything
mission planners need to develop, optimize, and validate
flight-ready trajectory solutions and reveals mission-critical
insights that can decrease overall program costs. Astrogator is
used to develop, refine, and validate high-fidelity trajectory
designs, and to compute updates to planned maneuvers during
operations in response to observed flight performance. Astrogator
has been used on missions ranging from LEO to GEO, from the Sun to
Arrokoth, and many places in between. In this role, the Senior
Astrodynamics Engineer will work closely with the contributors to
our other flight dynamics product, Orbit Determination Tool Kit
(ODTK). ODTK provides highly accurate orbit estimates from
processing real or simulated tracking data and is used throughout
the engineering life cycle, from mission design through operations.
In this role, the Senior Astrodynamics Engineer will use their
expertise to develop strategic plans, refine requirements, and
implement software solutions to achieve development objectives.
This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship. Key
Duties & Responsibilities • Conducts extensive astrodynamics domain
research and analysis in support of software development efforts •
Acts as a technical reference across groups or products • Works
directly within the software to investigate and improve software
capabilities • Works with customers or proxies to assess needs and
develop solutions • Develops, employs and maintains best practices
through technical reviews and mentoring • Produces and delivers
technical presentations for industry conferences and internal
training • Operates without direct supervision and functions as an
organizational leader • May be responsible for line management of a
small technical team, but primary duties are of an individual
technical nature Minimum Education & Experience • MS from an
astrodynamics program, plus 3 years of astrodynamics domain
experience, or a PhD focused in astrodynamics, plus 1 year of
astrodynamics domain experience • Familiarity with software
development and coding practices • Ability to develop expertise in
commercial aerospace software development • A track record of
delivering state-of-the-art results on complex problems Preferred
Qualifications & Skills • Fluency with software development and
coding practices, in particular C++, C#, etc. • Specialized
knowledge in one or more of the following subject matter areas: o
Station-keeping in Earth (LEO/GEO), lunar or cislunar orbits o
Rendezvous, relative motion and proximity operations o
Semi-analytic theory and propagation methods o Multi-body dynamics
and dynamical systems theory o Low-thrust trajectory optimization o
General trajectory optimization o Optimal control o Attitude
control & determination o Strong mathematical background, partial
derivatives, coordinate systems and transforms o Operational
experience in spacecraft flight dynamics o Proven research skills
within the astrodynamics community o Excellent communication and
interpersonal skills o Ability to drive success across teams and
geographies, and to mentor others
Keywords: , Elizabeth , Senior R&D Engineer - Astrodynamics/Trajectory Optimization, IT / Software / Systems , Exton, New Jersey
