Senior Space Guidance, Navigation, and Controls (GNC) Engineer

About This Role

As a Senior Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Controls (GNC) Engineer, you will own the full life cycle of GNC development at Varda, from design through to unit, hardware-in-the-loop, on-vehicle functionality, and flight testing. You will perform system analyses, including simulations and Monte Carlo, to satisfy specifications and requirements and to drive system-level architectural and business decisions. You will contribute to a sophisticated multi-degree of freedom in-house aerospace simulation and test framework and develop and maintain design descriptions and supporting documentation. You'll see end to end execution of the GNC subsystem from initial analysis/design through vehicle integration, mission planning and flight through support of on-orbit and reentry mission operations.

Responsibilities

ADCS hardware performance specification including sizing of reaction wheels, torque rods, IMU/GPS, and star trackers

Design and implementation of autonomous satellite attitude control, collision avoidance, orbital rendezvous, burn planning and atmospheric re-entry algorithms

Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for the reentry of a space capsule

Develop 6 degree of freedom vehicle simulation using C++, Python and MATLAB/Simulink

Running Monte Carlo analysis to characterize performance of new vehicle and mission capabilities

Integration and testing of GNC sensors, actuators, and software in hardware-in-the-loop environment

Design and implementation of ground tooling necessary to facilitate fully automated maneuver responsibility and maneuver scheduling decisions

Monitoring on-orbit system performance; troubleshooting where necessary

Coordination with other spacecraft operators, 3rd party agencies, and the US government

Basic Qualifications

B.S. degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, physics, or related field

5+ proven years of experience, or PhD with 3+ years of relevant experience

Demonstrated knowledge in designing, modeling, testing, and flying aerospace guidance, navigation, and control systems

Highly adept software and model development skills, particularly in C++/Python

Understanding of orbital mechanics, modeling and simulation, and software development

Experience anchoring/fitting first principles models to test data or high-fidelity external simulations

Proven system engineering and configuration management skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Skills and Experience

Master's degree in engineering or physics

Experience with spacecraft attitude determination and control system design

Experience with GMAT, POST2, or similar tools

Understanding of multi-body dynamics, flexible body dynamics, gas dynamics, fluids, and thermodynamics

Experience developing and verifying physical models for the purpose of control design, component sizing, and system performance evaluation

Experience supporting safety critical flight tests or spacecraft

Ability to continuously manage risk and provide solutions with lean and state of the art software development techniques

Pay Range

Salary range: Senior: $169,067 - $216,031/per year

This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA

Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance

You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards