engineering
Posted Mar 26Senior GNC Controls Engineer
at Astranis
San Francisco, United StatesOn-site
Responsibilities
- Design, implement, and test closed-loop control algorithms for precise pointing, station-keeping, detumble, and desaturation maneuvers for satellites in orbit
- Develop and maintain high-fidelity satellite simulations to validate GNC control algorithms prior to flight
- Validate and verify algorithm performance through software simulation, Monte Carlo analysis, hardware in the loop, and on-orbit testing
- Perform stability analysis in both time and frequency domains, including gain tuning, margin assessment, and notch filter design for structural flex modes
- Support system identification efforts using in-orbit telemetry to refine onboard models and improve controller performance
- Develop operational procedures and provide mission planning support
- Support GNC operations for our fleet of satellites, including on-console and on-call rotations
Requirements
- Ability to effectively collaborate with interdisciplinary teams on large projects
- B.S. or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- experience in GNC, controls, or a closely adjacent discipline
- Strong fundamentals in classical and modern control theory, including frequency-domain analysis (Bode plots, Nyquist, gain/phase margins) •
- Experience designing and implementing closed-loop control systems for dynamic systems •
- Experience with gain optimization, linearization, and controls tooling development Demonstrated
- Proficiency in Python for algorithm development and simulation •
- Experience with modern C++ for on-board software
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, iterative environment
- experience with spacecraft attitude control systems (reaction wheels, thrusters, gimbals)
- Understanding of orbital mechanics and geostationary stationkeeping strategies
- Familiarity with electric or chemical propulsion-based control (e.g., stationkeeping, momentum management maneuvers)
- Background in estimation theory or Kalman filtering for attitude/orbit determination Hands-on