Principal GNC & Trajectory Analyst
Listed on 2026-08-24
-
Engineering
Systems Engineer, Aerospace / Aviation / Avionics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineer
Principal Gnc & Trajectory Analyst
People Tec is currently seeking a Principal GNC & Trajectory Analyst to support our Huntsville, AL location. People Tec is looking for an amazingly talented Principal GNC & Trajectory Analyst to join our team! In this role you will provide technical and advisory assistance to Targets Program Office by aiding in the refinement and implementation of Target trajectories in support of the agencies flight test events to validate the weapon and system sensors.
Duties:
- Support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Directorate for Test (DT) Targets program office with development of missile defense target vehicles
- Support the Targets System Engineering team in all aspects of target design, analysis, and test to include requirements development and assessment, modeling and simulation, test analysis and reporting
- Utilize knowledge, skills and experience with missile characteristics (physical, kinematics, signatures) and engineering to support engineering activities and data product development
- Technical focus areas include Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC), Modeling and Simulation (M&S), and vehicle performance assessments
- Generate and analyze target vehicle 6-DoF and 3-DoF trajectory data using industry standard (e.g., TAOS) and in-house developed (e.g., MATLAB, Python, C++) tools
- Support flight test analysis and reporting to include analyzing vehicle onboard instrumentation data and generating trajectory reconstruction
- Collaborate with a dynamic team of experts in multiple technical areas to develop analysis and engineering tools
Required Skills/
Experience:
- Strong understanding of principles of aerodynamics; equations of motion; coordinate systems; vehicle dynamics; guidance, navigation, and control; etc.
- Experience with missile trajectory analysis to include working in different coordinate frames, endo- and exo-atmospheric behaviors, and identifying key trajectory parameters
- Knowledge of satellite orbital mechanics, ephemeris, orbit propagation, perturbations, determination, and maneuver planning
- Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, Java, C#, and other programming languages
- Skilled in use of modeling and simulation tools (e.g., TAOS, STK)
- Strong oral and written communication skills
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
- Active Secret clearance
Education Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree and 20+ years working on missile defense-related or other DoD programs/projects OR a Master's degree and 12+ years working on missile defense-related or other DoD programs/projects
Desired
Skills:
- Familiarity with MDA and/or DoD programs and processes
- Experience in any or all of the following disciplines:
Design, CAD, Trajectory, Radar Cross Section (RCS) Signatures, Optical Signatures - Strong attention to detail and ability to efficiently perform multiple tasks
- Ability to communicate detailed technical information to technical and non-technical personnel
People First. Technology Always.
People Tec, Inc. is an employee-owned small business founded in Huntsville, AL that provides exceptional customer support by employing and retaining a highly skilled workforce.
Culture:
The name "People Tec" was deliberately chosen to remind us of our core value system - our people. Our company's foundation was built on placing our employees and customers first. With an award-winning atmosphere, we have matured into a company that boasts the best and brightest across multiple technical fields.
Career:
At People Tec, we value your long-term goals. Whether it's through our continuing-education opportunities, our robust training programs, or our "People First" benefits package, People Tec truly believes that our best investments are our people.
Come Experience It.
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).