AOCS Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer (Senior)

Satellite Engineering

                                              AOCS Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer (Senior)

About the company

Satellogic is the first vertically integrated geospatial analytics company, driving real outcomes for its customers with planetary-scale insights they can trust.  Our low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation, platform, and data science teams work together to deliver end-to-end solutions at the right cost. We make sense of the data so customers can focus on the big decisions at hand.  Satellogic’s satellite engineers, AI experts, and solution specialists are on a mission to deliver a fundamentally better picture of our planet and the many forces that reshape it every day. We bring space down to earth for large enterprises and governments of all sizes who need to see for themselves how our world is changing.

Today, we are a global company with offices in 6 countries (US, Spain, Argentina, and Uruguay) with a distributed team of over 200 employees in 15+ locations, and we are at an inflection point in terms of growth and scale. We value team members with a sense of purpose who push the limits, get things done, and never stop learning -- all while being humble, honest, and empathetic.

About the team

The AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control System) team has end-to-end responsibility of our Guidance, Navigation and Control software, including conception, design, testing, operations and decommissioning.

The team is always learning and trying to push the limits, relying in part on the large diversity of people’s profiles and backgrounds.

About the job

We are looking for a Senior Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer to join our AOCS team. In this role, you will have technical ownership over the GNC subsystem for our next generation of spacecraft. You will contribute to the entire development lifecycle, from initial concept and design to hands-on integration, testing, and on-orbit support.

Your Mission: End-to-End GNC System Development

As a Senior GNC Engineer, you will be responsible for the definition, design, analysis, implementation, and operational support of the AOCS subsystem. You will contribute to the entire mission lifecycle, leveraging both extensive theoretical knowledge and practical engineering expertise.

Principal Responsibilities:

Translate high level requirements into GNC software requirements within hardware limitations.

Perform system simulations, develop and test flight software.

Define the GNC system architecture, perform trade studies, and select hardware components like sensors and actuators to meet mission requirements.

Design, implement, and test core GNC algorithms for attitude estimation, flight control, and orbital guidance.

Lead the integration and testing of the GNC subsystem, using a combination of Model-in-the-Loop (MIL), Software-in-the-Loop (SIL), and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulations.

Play a key role in the launch, commissioning, and ongoing operations of the AOCS, including analyzing telemetry and resolving anomalies.

Work closely with other engineering teams and provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers.

Offer tier 3 support during commissioning and operations of GNC flight software.

Evaluate algorithm performance statistically.

Assess statistical estimation errors to drive future improvement developments to meet our current products.

Location: Argentina, Spain, Uruguay or Remote.

About you 

Required Experience:

PhD, Msc or equivalent experience in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Control engineering.

Programming in either of Python/C/C++, strong knowledge of statistics, control theory and signal processing.

4+ years experience in software, statistics, estimation, signal processing, applied mathematics and/or control.

5+ years of professional experience in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) or Attitude and Orbit Control Systems (AOCS) for aerospace vehicles

Demonstrated expertise in spacecraft orbital mechanics, classical dynamics, and attitude kinematics.

A strong theoretical foundation in modern and classical control theory, linear and non-linear systems, and state estimation techniques such as the Kalman filter.

Required Skills:

Communication: Ability to communicate oral and written information at all hierarchical levels.

Direction: Supervise adequately the performance of all assignments having direct, close and frequent communication with their employees.

Focus on Solutions: Ability to search for solutions, exploring different alternatives permanently.

Leadership: ability to influence the behavior of employees, and maintain an adequate productivity environment.

Organization: Manage your resources properly, establishing priorities and dates of compliance. 

Planning: Establish and communicate all the objectives, actions and expectations for the performance of each employee.

Relationships: Respect and support all employees, hierarchical high levels suppliers and customers of their products and services.

Fluent English.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in the modeling, analysis, and control law design for spacecraft with significant structural flexibility (antennas, solar panels, etc).

Experience with multi-body dynamics simulation tools and formalisms.

Hands-on experience with the integration, test, and on-orbit calibration of AOCS hardware components (e.g., star trackers, IMUs, reaction wheels)

A proven track record of leading the AOCS subsystem design through its full lifecycle, including presenting at and contributing to major project reviews (e.g., PDR, CDR).

Knowledge of advanced control techniques such as adaptive control, robust control, or Model Predictive Control (MPC).

Satellogic values diversity and inclusion and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring and developing top talent from around the world for any given discipline. We work to build an inclusive environment in which all people, regardless of gender, race, religion, or background, can come to do their best work. In order to apply, send us your updated CV and cover letter explaining your level of familiarity with the position described in this Job Description.

Contact Us

To apply please visit https://satellogic.bamboohr.com/jobs/