Guidance Navigation and Control Engineer

Key Responsibilities

Architecture and Investigation

• Architect solutions for space mission objectives, focusing on space domain awareness and RPOD with an emphasis on autonomy, considering both hardware and software.
• Evaluate and select appropriate techniques for mission achievement, including machine learning methods, physics-informed solutions, stochastic methods, and Kalman Filters.
• Assist in proposal capture efforts through feasibility analysis and engage with private/public partners, Department of Defense, Other Government Agencies, and other commercial partnerships.

Architecture Design

• Develop architecture, lead trade studies, and lead the GNC team from conceptualization to flight for RPOD missions.
• Design algorithms, simulations, and tools for orbit determination, state estimation, and uncertainty propagation to support SDA efforts.
• Analyze and source datasets for training and validation of algorithm performance.
• Build and test modeling and simulation tools for orbital/cislunar dynamics, sensor modeling, and visualization.
• Perform six degree of freedom modeling, simulation, and validation of spacecraft dynamics, sensors, and algorithms, including for RPOD missions.

Implementation

• Collaborate with the software and GNC teams to implement algorithms in flight software.
• Provide significant support for hardware-in-the-loop testing for integrated system validation.
• Design concepts of operations (CONOPS) that balance thermal, power, momentum, and communications for spacecraft missions.
• Provide mission operations training and support.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Python for software development.
• Git, Linux, and Basilisk (desired).
• C/C++ for software development (desired).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical engineering discipline.
• 0-3 years of experience working in guidance, navigation, and control.
• Software development experience in Python.
• Experience developing, debugging, and deploying GNC sensors, effectors, and algorithms used in real-world applications/projects.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere.
• Proven ability to lead a project from conception to completion.
• Experience with cradle-to-grave spacecraft design, testing, verification/validation, and in-orbit mission operations (desired).
• Expertise in either guidance, navigation, or control (desired).
• Experience with multi-body astrodynamics (desired).
• Capable of identifying and solving complex problems with little to no supervision or direction (desired).
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal (desired).
• Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.