SW Engineer, Flight + Plan

Aerospace Software Engineer – Flight Dynamics & Mission Planning

Location: Seattle, WA; Denver, CO or Washington, D.C.

Clearance: Active U.S. security clearance

Employment Type: Full-time

Compensation: $120,000- $180,000 (based on experience)

We are seeking an experienced Aerospace Software Engineer to develop software systems that support satellite operations, flight dynamics, conjunction avoidance, and mission planning. This role is ideal for a software engineer with direct aerospace or space industry experience who enjoys solving complex, physics-based problems and building scalable, algorithm-driven systems.

You will work closely with aerospace and mission experts to design and implement software that models orbital mechanics, optimizes satellite maneuvers, and supports safe and efficient mission execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop software for satellite flight dynamics and orbital mechanics modeling

• Build systems that support conjunction assessment and collision avoidance

• Develop mission planning and scheduling tools for satellite operations and maneuvers

• Implement optimization algorithms to improve orbital efficiency, routing, and mission performance

• Translate aerospace and mission requirements into reliable, maintainable software solutions

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including aerospace engineers, mission planners, and operators

• Contribute to backend services, simulations, and analytical tools used in satellite missions

Required Qualifications

• Professional experience in the aerospace or space industry (satellites, space systems, GNC, flight dynamics, or related domains)

• Strong software engineering background, with emphasis on building production systems

• Proficiency in Python for algorithm development, modeling, and backend services

• Solid understanding of physics-based or mathematically intensive systems

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience)

• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a security clearance

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Preferred Qualifications

• Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or higher)

• Experience with orbital mechanics, astrodynamics, or satellite mission operations

• Background in conjunction analysis, mission planning, or trajectory optimization

• Experience with Java in addition to Python

• Experience with C++ or Rust (considered, though Python is primary)

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field

• Prior work supporting government or defense space programs