Flight Dynamics​/GNC Engineer , Space Sciences Laboratory

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The Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) is an Organized Research Unit (ORU) of the Berkeley campus reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Research. SSL's primary goal is to foster research in space-related sciences and to provide education for the next generation of space scientists. Research at SSL, led by Berkeley faculty and SSL Senior Fellows, focuses on experiments and observations carried out in space as well as theoretical and basic research.

The Mission Operations Team at the Space Sciences Lab operates multiple NASA science spacecraft now, and is funded to operate additional ones through this decade, and beyond. We currently operate spacecraft in Low Earth orbit, Lunar Orbit, at Earth-Sun Lagrange distance, and Mars, all AT THE SAME TIME. We are looking for a new Flight Dynamics engineer to help us with the essential products we need to ensure that our spacecraft get to where they need, and maneuver as appropriate to collect science data for our important missions.

The person we hire will aid in spacecraft navigation and mission design tasks for our existing and upcoming missions. You will work in a small and nimble team on multiple missions and proposals at once, and on a timescale where you will get to see your work’s impact.

The First Review Date for this job is: 01/27/2026.

• Under supervision, provides mission operations support for ongoing projects.
• Generates and analyzes orbit and attitude determination solutions and mission planning products.
• Provides spacecraft maneuver planning, analysis, and calibrations for missions with propulsive capabilities.
• Under guidance of managers and principle investigators designs, develops, modifies, debugs and evaluates flight dynamics and navigation systems that are part of the multi-mission operations system and its components.
• Provides support for mission design, flight dynamics, and navigation analyses for proposals and projects in pre-launch phases.
• Interacts with other aerospace engineering specialists, and outside collaborators, to develop and maintain the flight dynamics components of our mission operations system.
• Responds to spacecraft anomalies in flight dynamics systems or assist spacecraft operators in their tasks to investigate and recover from on-orbit, or ground system, anomalies.
• Gathers and analyzes information and prepares reports with respect to feasibility, flight dynamics design criteria and performance of their related products in support of formal project review processes.
• Writes, analyzes, prepares and summarizes operational procedures and reports.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Experience in the design, development, and navigation of spacecraft.
• Relevant work or school experience in at least one of the following: spacecraft navigation, trajectory determination, or mission design.
• Experience using at least one commonly used flight design tool such as Mission Analysis, Operations, and Navigation Toolkit Environment (MONTE), General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT), Copernicus, or other related mission design and trajectory analysis software systems.
• Skilled in the use of Python, MATLAB, LINUX, VS Code, and Git/Git Lab.
• Working systems level knowledge of other engineering specialties involved in the design and development of spacecraft.
• Must be able to travel up to 5% as needed for work events.
• Must be able to travel within the US to support in-person meetings and work on EAR programs.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

• Demonstrated ability to…