Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC)/Flight Dynamics Software Developer

Company Description

Join us and make YOUR mark on the World!

Are you interested in joining some of the brightest talent in the world to strengthen the United States’ security? Come join Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) where our employees apply their expertise to create solutions for BIG ideas that make our world a better place.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture that values individuals, talents, partnerships, ideas, experiences, and different perspectives, recognizing their importance to the continued success of the Laboratory’s mission.

Pay Range

$140,700 - $178,392 Annually for the SES.2 level
$168,780 - $214,032 Annually for the SES.3 level

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting; pay will not be below any applicable local minimum wage. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.

Job Description

We have an opening for a Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC)/Flight Dynamics Software Developer in support of the Flight Performance Integration (FPI) program. FPI supports LLNL weapon system design and assessments with modeling and simulation utilizing custom in-house computational codes. You will perform code development work focused on a Python modeling environment (library) to generate an integrated tool to interface with multiple engineering solvers and post-processing applications. This will involve developing methods and tools to streamline the engineering workflow, facilitate automation, and provide drop-in automated data extraction. This work prepares for a planned AI driven virtual design assistant. This position is in the Computational Engineering Division (CED), within the Engineering Directorate.

This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

You will

• Contribute to and actively participate in the conception, development, implementation, execution, and documentation of new aerospace engineering analysis capabilities, such as optimal control, advanced 3DoF trajectory optimization, 6DoF trajectory optimization, and autopilot design software.
• Support concept trade studies and assist in deriving GN&C requirements for future systems.
• Collaborate with team members and contribute to the development of tools for managing CFD, Trajectory, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and other numerical modeling workflows including preprocessing, post-processing, and data management, as well as providing input, recommending enhancements, and solving problems of moderate complexity using creativity with established or innovative methods.
• Perform analysis on a variety of flight modeling related tools with an emphasis on assembling them to enable novel analysis at scale utilizing high-performance computing (HPC) resources.
• Deliver results to, engage with, and provide support to engineering and flight modeling analysts including debugging problems, providing alternative solutions, and enabling quick feature implementation.
• Document methods and implementation methodologies, activities, sequences, and requirements in both informal and formal reports and presentations.
• Share relevant knowledge, analysis, and recommendations in collaboration with internal and external scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists through reviews and working groups, including interfacing with other development teams working on tools that support analysis workflows.
• Balance multiple projects/tasks and priorities of customers and partners to ensure deadlines are met, while working independently with limited direction within the scope of the assignment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional job responsibilities, at the SES.3 level

• Independently determine technical objectives and criteria to satisfy project deliverables and execute the appropriate technical approaches.
• Solve abstract and complex problems as required, using in-depth analysis, and drawing from advanced level technical knowledge, best practices, and both routine and innovative techniques and approaches to guide and ensure successful completion of project and organizational goals.
• Represent the organization as the primary technical contact by sharing relevant knowledge, providing opinions and recommendations, and exerting influence to fulfill deliverables as a team.
• Lead and mentor junior staff, s