GNC Engineer, ADCS (Starlink) Verified today
About the Role
As a Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) engineer on Starlink's Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) team, you will be responsible for the software automation, operations, and system level design which keeps the satellites and their payloads properly oriented for the entire mission lifetime.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop highly reliable and performant GNC algorithms, simulations, tools, services, and dashboards using C++ or Python; you will write actual production code, not just prototypes
- Design and implement GNC software for all mission phases, including off-nominal and contingency scenarios
- Create high fidelity time domain 6DOF modeling and simulation of vehicle dynamics, sensors, actuators, and algorithms
- Conduct Monte Carlo simulation analysis to validate flight safety and quantify navigation and control performance
- Lead hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing efforts, including test case design, data review automation, and fidelity improvements
- Design translational and rotational state estimation and control systems
- Participate in architecture, design, and code reviews
- Analyze bulk data from the Starlink constellation to review performance across network elements
- Design concepts of operations (CONOPs) that balance thermal constraints, power budgets, momentum management, communications, and payload-pointing needs
- Support on-call operations rotation, commanding satellites and reviewing network data to maintain continuous peak performance
- Maintain tight interfaces with other disciplines such as thermal, power, and communications for consistent system-level design
- Update and maintain GNC software configurations for vehicle design revisions and mission sets
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, aerospace, physics, or an engineering discipline
- Software development experience in C++ or Python
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Master's degree or PhD in an engineering discipline or physics
- Developed, debugged, and deployed software for real world applications and projects
- Cradle to grave development of three axis stabilized spacecraft with momentum, magnetic, and propulsive control
- Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, including low thrust trajectory optimization and stationkeeping
- Experience verifying GNC algorithm performance via simulation and model validation
- Experience in state estimation, particularly attitude determination, orbit determination, GNSS, and radio navigation
- Familiarity with spacecraft flight disciplines including structures, propulsion, avionics, GNC, flight software, dynamics, launch and mission operations, and integration
- Ability to identify and solve complex problems with minimal supervision
- Exceptional analytical skills and strong engineering fundamentals
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven environment
Compensation and Benefits
Pay Range:
Level 1: $125,000 - $165,000
Level 2: $145,000 - $200,000
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Benefits include long-term incentives (company stock or long-term cash awards), discretionary bonuses, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, comprehensive medical/vision/dental coverage, 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, 3 weeks of paid vacation, 10 or more paid holidays per year, paid sick time in compliance with Washington state law, and company shuttles for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the Redmond office Monday to Friday.
Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.