Flight Dynamics Intern at AstroForge – Seal Beach, California

Flight Dynamics InternAt AstroForge, our mission is to make space resources accessible on Earth. We mine asteroids to extract valuable minerals in space at a lower cost and smaller carbon footprint than current terrestrial mining methods. By joining the team at AF you’ll have the opportunity to work side by side with our amazing engineer and science teams. This position will provide you with valuable skills, experience, and mentorship necessary to become a leading professional in your field. We offer a unique opportunity to join an exciting team looking to expand humanity’s capabilities in space.
Job DescriptionAs a Flight Dynamics Intern, you will be responsible for developing trajectories, automated software toolchains, and analysis to support interplanetary mission planning, orbit determination, and spacecraft operations. You will work under the mentorship of our flight dynamics and operations engineers to support both pre-flight and flight phases for multiple spacecraft that are pushing the boundaries of what’s been done before.
Basic Qualifications

• - 18 years or older
• - Proof of US Citizenship or Permanent Residency
• - Enrollment in an accredited college or university, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• - Must not be otherwise employed for the duration of the internship

Required Skills & Qualifications

• - Willingness to own a project in a fast-paced startup environment
• - Demonstrated problem-solving and critical thinking skills
• - Working knowledge of calculus and linear algebra
• - Proficiency with Python
• - Currently pursuing a degree in engineering or a STEM-related field

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• - Rising seniors or graduate students graduating either winter 2025 or spring 2026.
• - Strong orbital dynamics background
• - Experience with numerical optimization (e.g. nonlinear programming, fmincon, SNOPT)
• - Experience with mission analysis and simulation tools (e.g. STK, GMAT, Basilisk, pykep)
• - Experience with databases and query-based visualization (e.g. Grafana, Kibana)
• - Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Location: Onsite in Seal BeachPay Rate: $30.00 per hourDuration: 10 weeks
ITAR RequirementsTo conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S.,protected individual as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.15) or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.