Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Engineer, Technical Lead

Full job description

Atomos Space is developing and operating Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTVs) to perform in-space mobility to satellites, including orbit raising, precision insertion, phasing, relocation and plane change services. We’re not only striving to enable more commercial companies to operate in space dynamically and sustainably: we’re realizing next-gen electric propulsion, from high power solar today, to space nuclear systems tomorrow. Atomos is funded by private investors, as well as commercial and government contracts.

As part of a passionate team, you will lead the development of the GNC (inertial and relative) system for Atomos’ future OTVs. Missions under development for these vehicles range from servicing >$500m satellites for government and commercial customers through to high dV missions beyond the moon.

This position encompasses both algorithm and flight software development for the GNC system. This role requires a high degree of autonomy, strong experience in GNC systems development, and comfort handling and debugging flight hardware when required. This position will initially report directly to the Chief Engineer and will be performed in close coordination with the Atomos GNC manager and Atomos flight software team. You will provide hands-on development, integration, and testing for the GNC system while also providing technical mentoring to the rest of our GNC engineers.

Responsibilities

• Own it all: lifecycle technical development of both relative and inertial GNC hardware and software on future OTVs, from conceptualization to in-space operation
• Implement GNC systems for future OTVs while leveraging Atomos’ heritage hardware and software systems
• Provide expertise in flight algorithm development in direction collaboration with our FSW team
• Analyze and verify all aspects of the GNC system design at the spacecraft-level during development, integration and testing
• GNC component specification and selection
• Spacecraft dynamical modeling including flexible structure interactions and cross-discipline vehicle modeling
• Demonstrate and conceive capabilities for future missions

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with at least 8 years of industry experience (advanced degree a plus)
• Demonstrated experience developing aspects of a GNC system through to flight readiness
• Demonstrated experience developing GNC system-level tests for spacecraft, both in ground and flight tests
• Experience with non-propulsive and propulsive spacecraft GNC systems
• Involvement with some aspect of relative GNC system design and development
• Expert-level knowledge of some aspect of GNC system design (ex. Kalman Filtering, flexible body accommodation, trajectory guidance)
• Software development experience, with Python/C++ the preferred languages
• US Person*

Desired Experience

• Expertise in the development and tuning of Kalman filters
• Strong dynamics background, including attitude dynamics, orbital mechanics and relative motion
• Experience in integrating spacecraft hardware in software systems
• Experience in relative (RPO) GNC development, testing, and operation
• Expertise in Guidance, Navigation or Control, and working knowledge of all three domains
• Experience using Basilisk astrodynamics framework preferred

Type: Full Time Employee, Salaried, including stock options and benefits.

Location: Broomfield, Colorado (although a flexible hybrid work schedule may be possible).

Start date: Immediate.

*NOTE: This position is subject to Export Control Laws (U.S. State Department regulations at 22 C.F.R. Subchapter M and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Export Administration Regulations found in 15 C.F.R. Part 730). If you are not (a) a citizen of the United States; (b) a lawful permanent resident of the United States; or (c) a person admitted into the United States as an asylee or refugee and wish to be considered for a position not subject to Export Control Law please contact Atomos Space.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $120,000.00 - $180,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Experience level:

• 8 years

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Are you a U.S. person as defined by Export Control Laws (U.S. State Department regulations at 22 C.F.R. Subchapter M and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Export Administration Regulations found in 15 C.F.R. Part 730)?

Ability to Relocate:

• Broomfield, CO 80020: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person