GNC Engineer, ADCS (Starshield) Verified today

About the Role

Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.

You will bring expertise in spacecraft attitude dynamics and control, orbit and attitude navigation filtering, orbital mechanics, and software development to support the Starshield Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) GNC team. The ADCS is an extremely central and crucial subsystem. You will work on a high-impact team whose success is paramount to the long-term flourishing of the entire Starshield program, writing the software that flies Starshield satellites and enables mission success.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement satellite GNC software for all mission concepts of operations across all phases of flight, including off-nominal and contingency scenarios
• Design concepts of operations (CONOPs) that intelligently balance thermal constraints, power budgets, momentum management, satellite-to-ground and satellite-to-satellite contact, and payload-pointing needs
• Design, develop, and implement onboard GNC algorithms to achieve high vehicle autonomy and fault tolerance while providing adequate navigation and control performance
• Update and maintain GNC software configurations for minor satellite design revisions and mission sets
• Perform high fidelity time domain 6DOF modeling and simulation of satellite dynamics, sensors, actuators, algorithms, and their interactions
• Conduct Monte Carlo simulation analysis to validate safe and reliable flight and quantify navigation and control performance
• Participate heavily in integrated hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing, including test case design, data review automation, and modeling fidelity improvements
• Design and optimize navigation filtering and control systems
• Perform spacecraft design activities related to ADCS sensor and actuator hardware sizing and layout
• Develop, validate, and improve complex sensor, actuator, and dynamics models for 6DOF simulation analysis
• Maintain a robust interface with other disciplines and subsystems (thermal, power, communications) to ensure consistent system-level design

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, computer science/software engineering, or an engineering discipline
• Software development experience in C++, Python, and/or MATLAB/Simulink
• Experience with attitude determination and/or state estimation algorithms

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's or PhD in aerospace engineering, computer science/software engineering, or an engineering discipline
• Basic familiarity with the GNC discipline and associated technical fundamentals
• Extremely strong technical fundamentals in spacecraft attitude and orbit dynamics, navigation filtering and/or control systems design
• Capable of identifying and solving complex problems with a high degree of autonomy
• Willingness to take on large scope of ownership over complex problems and solve them in a multi-disciplinary fashion, striving for system and mission-level optimality
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic engineering environment with commitment to continuous improvement
• Demonstrated experience owning, designing, testing, and flying real-world GNC engineering solutions, preferably on space vehicles
• Experience with on-orbit space vehicle operations, commanding, debugging, and use of flight telemetry to track performance metrics and validate simulation models
• Familiarity with orbit navigation filtering using GNSS measurements and attitude navigation using star trackers and rate gyros
• Strong understanding of unit testing, regression testing, and CI/CD within complex software development environments
• Familiarity with GNC algorithm unit testing and implementation in flight software
• Experience with Git, Linux, Confluence, and Jira
• Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one

Additional Requirements

• Able to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical path development and/or critical on-orbit operations
• An active clearance may provide opportunity to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Range:
Level 1: $125,000 - $160,000
Level 2: $145,000 - $195,000

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.