Senior R&D Engineer - Astrodynamics/Trajectory Optimization (Exton, PA

Requisition #: 16781

Our Mission: Powering Innovation That Drives Human Advancement

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.

Innovate With Ansys, Power Your Career.

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:

Station-keeping in Earth (LEO/GEO), lunar or cislunar orbits

Rendezvous, relative motion and proximity operations

Semi-analytic theory and propagation methods

Multi-body dynamics and dynamical systems theory

Low-thrust trajectory optimization

General trajectory optimization

Optimal control

Attitude control & determination

Strong mathematical background, partial derivatives, coordinate systems and transforms

Operational experience in spacecraft flight dynamics

Proven research skills within the astrodynamics community

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to drive success across teams and geographies, and to mentor others

At Ansys, we know that changing the world takes vision, skill, and each other. We fuel new ideas, build relationships, and help each other realize our greatest potential. We are ONE Ansys. We operate on three key components: our commitments to stakeholders, our values that guide how we work together, and our actions to deliver results. As ONE Ansys, we are powering innovation that drives human advancement

Our Commitments:

Amaze with innovative products and solutions

Make our customers incredibly successful

Act with integrity

Ensure employees thrive and shareholders prosper

Our Values:

Adaptability: Be open, welcome what’s next

Courage: Be courageous, move forward passionately

Generosity: Be generous, share, listen, serve

Authenticity: Be you, make us stronger

Our Actions:

We commit to audacious goals

We work seamlessly as a team

We demonstrate mastery

We deliver outstanding results

VALUES IN ACTION

Ansys is committed to powering the people who power human advancement. We believe in creating and nurturing a workplace that supports and welcomes people of all backgrounds; encouraging them to bring their talents and experience to a workplace where they are valued and can thrive.

Our culture is grounded in our four core values of adaptability, courage, generosity, and authenticity. Through our behaviors and actions, these values foster higher team performance and greater innovation for our customers.

We’re proud to offer programs, available to all employees, to further impact innovation and business outcomes, such as employee networks and learning communities that inform solutions for our globally minded customer base.

WELCOME WHAT’S NEXT IN YOUR CAREER AT ANSYS

At Ansys, you will find yourself among the sharpest minds and most visionary leaders across the globe. Collectively, we strive to change the world with innovative technology and transformational solutions. With a prestigious reputation in working with well-known, world-class companies, standards at Ansys are high — met by those willing to rise to the occasion and meet those challenges head on. Our team is passionate about pushing the limits of world-class simulation technology, empowering our customers to turn their design concepts into successful, innovative products faster and at a lower cost. Ready to feel inspired? Check out some of our recent customer stories, here and here.

At Ansys, it’s about the learning, the discovery, and the collaboration. It’s about the “what’s next” as much as the “mission accomplished.” And it’s about the melding of disciplined intellect with strategic direction and results that have, can, and do impact real people in real ways. All this is forged within a working environment built on respect, autonomy, and ethics.

CREATING A PLACE WE’RE PROUD TO BE

Ansys is an S&P 500 company and a member of the NASDAQ-100. We are proud to have been recognized for the following more recent awards, although our list goes on: Newsweek’s Most Loved Workplace globally and in the U.S., Gold Stevie Award Winner, America’s Most Responsible Companies, Fast Company World Changing Ideas, Great Place to Work Certified (China, Greece, France, India, Japan, Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and U.K.).

For more information, please visit us at

Ansys is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.

Ansys does not accept unsolicited referrals for vacancies, and any unsolicited referral will become the property of Ansys. Upon hire, no fee will be owed to the agency, person, or entity.