GNC Engineer (M/F)

Astroscale Ltd.; Toulouse; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium family health insurance (Mutu​

Disability & life insurance

Salary maintained from day one of sick

Hybrid working (up to 2 days remote)

Remote work allowance

Paid child sickness leave

Family and caregiving leave

Job summary

Astroscale France seeks an experienced GNC Engineer in Toulouse to join a growing team. You will develop and validate GNC algorithms for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations, while integrating hardware and software with the spacecraft architecture.

You will contribute to GNC simulator development, perform hardware trade-offs and support verification campaigns, including HIL testing. Fluency in French and English is required; hybrid working in Toulouse is offered.

Qualifications

• Diploma: bachelor or master’s degree in aerospace engineering or another relevant engineering/science discipline.
• Experience with software tools commonly used for aerospace system analysis and simulation, including Python.
• Experience with version control software, e.g., GIT, SVN.
• Strong experience of GNC algorithm design, modelling and testing, e.g., navigation filters, guidance strategies and/or controllers.
• Knowledge and experience of GNC rendezvous.
• Experience with optimization algorithms, control synthesis and analysis.
• Ability to balance innovative engineering solutions with project delivery objectives, ensuring timely execution within cost, schedule, and technical constraints.
• Demonstrates behaviours aligned with Astroscale's values; strong collaboration across teams.
• Fluent in French and English; eligible to work in Europe.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to GNC algorithm development – analyse, design, implement and validate algorithms for RPO, coordinating with flight dynamics and flight software teams.
• Ensure configuration management and technical integrity of GNC algorithms throughout the lifecycle.
• Support the evolution of the GNC software architecture in line with spacecraft and software system architecture.
• Conduct state-of-the-art research into GNC algorithm designs related to Astroscale’s missions.
• Contribute to development, maintenance and validation of the GNC simulator architecture and models.
• Maintain robust configuration control and long-term maintainability of the GNC simulation environment.
• Define simulation strategies and verification approaches to support milestones and testing.
• Contribute to planning/verification across the subsystem lifecycle; support anomaly investigations.

Skills

RPO algorithms

GNC algorithms

State estimation

HIL testing

Software architecture

Python

Version control

Education

Bachelor/Master in aerospace

Tools

Git

SVN

Simulink

MATLAB

C/C++

Job description

Astroscale France is looking for an experienced GNC Engineer to support the growth of our Toulouse office.

GNC subsystems for Astroscale missions require both standard and bespoke GNC algorithms and hardware equipment. The algorithms are often cutting edge, very complex, innovative and form some of Astroscale’s most important intellectual property. These, along with the hardware, must be integrated to form an integration, high-performing subsystem. Given the technical complexity and importance to Astroscale of this subsystem, a team of GNC engineers is required to take responsibility for this aspect of the GNC Group’s work.

Your responsibilities

Algorithms

• Contribute to GNC algorithm development – analyse, design, implement and validate algorithms for RPO (Rendezvous and Proximity Operations), working other engineering disciplines (especially flight dynamics, flight software) to develop safe GNC algorithm solutions which meet Astroscale’s project requirements (inc. technical and programmatic).
• Ensure configuration management and technical integrity of GNC algorithms throughout the development lifecycle.
• Support the definition and evolution of the GNC software architecture, ensuring consistency with the overall spacecraft and software system architecture.
• Conducting and planning state-of-the‑art research into GNC algorithm designs relevant to Astroscale’s missions.

Simulator

• Contribute to the development, maintenance, and validation of the GNC simulator architecture and associated models
• Ensure robust configuration control and long‑term maintainability of the GNC simulation environment
• Define simulation strategies and verification approaches to support project development milestones and system‑level testing

Hardware

• Contribute to development of GNC hardware architecture; trade‑off analysis of hardware towards overall GNC hardware solutions which meet Astroscale’s project requirements (inc. technical and programmatic).
• Conducting and planning state‑of‑the‑art research of technologies/sensors relevant to RPO (Rendezvous and Proximity Operations). This is including any relevant COTS equipment not designed for space use which could be developed for Astroscale missions
• Perform GNC hardware trade‑offs.

Integration

• Contribute to the planning and execution of GNC verification and validation activities across the subsystem lifecycle
• Define, plan, and execute GNC subsystem verification campaigns, including hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) and system‑level testing
• Contribute to technical reviews and anomaly investigations
• Support and oversee the verification of embedded GNC software implementations, ensuring consistency between algorithm design, simulation, and flight software execution

Expectied results

• Deliver GNC algorithm and simulator developments in accordance with Astroscale’s project requirements, technical and programmatic. Programmatic requirements include the budget and schedule specified by the respective projects.
• Deliver GNC hardware architecture solutions in accordance with Astroscale’s project requirements, technical and programmatic.
• Plan and execute GNC integration and V&V activities in accordance with Astroscale’s project requirements, technical and programmatic. Programmatic requirements include the budget and schedule specified by the respective projects.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of GNC methodologies, tools, processes, and technical standards to enhance efficiency, quality, and mission success.
• Support the development of GNC team capability through knowledge sharing, mentoring, and technical guidance of less experienced engineers.
• Ensure the technical coherence, traceability, and configuration management of GNC deliverables throughout the project lifecycle.

Experience And Qualifications

• Diploma: bachelor or master’s degree in aerospace engineering or another relevant engineering/science discipline
• Significant experience with software tools commonly used for aerospace system analysis and simulation, including Python
• Experience with version control software, e.g., GIT, SVN
• Strong experience of GNC algorithm design, modelling and testing, e.g., navigation filters, guidance strategies and/or controllers
• Knowledge and experience of GNC rendezvous
• Experience with optimization algorithms, control synthesis and analysis
• Ability to balance innovative engineering solutions with project delivery objectives, ensuring timely execution within cost, schedule, and technical constraints
• Demonstrates behaviours aligned with Astroscale's values (mission and people focused, transparent, innovative and pioneering, diverse and customer focused)
• Strong collaborative mindset, with the ability to influence and work effectively across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Supportive mindset: focusing on team development and fostering a positive working culture in the team
• Fluent in French and English
• Be eligible and registered to work within Europe

Nice to have

• C/C++ software development skills
• Experience with embedded software development and deployment in real‑time systems
• Experience working within a Systems Engineering framework, including requirements management, verification, validation, and traceability
• Knowledge of state‑of‑the‑art GNC technologies/hardware used in RPO missing
• Knowledge of testing/verification of integrated GNC subsystems e.g., Hardware‑in‑the‑Loop testing

Location

Astroscale France (Toulouse), with hybrid working

What we offer

• Premium family health insurance (Mutuelle) 100% funded by the company
• 100% employer‑funded disability & life insurance coverage (Pervoyance)
• Salary maintained from day one of sick leave
• Hybrid working (up to 2 days remote per week)
• Remote work allowance
• Paid child sickness leave
• Additional family and caregiving leave

About Astroscale

Astroscale is the global leader in on‑orbit servicing, dedicated to the secure and sustainable development of space. The company delivers a variety of innovative and scalable on‑orbit servicing solutions, including life extension, refurbishment, upgrades, in‑situ space situational awareness, end‑of‑life, and active debris removal. Since its first successful launch in March 2021, Astroscale has proven rendezvous and proximity operations technologies in orbit during the ELSA‑d and ADRAS‑J missions. Astroscale spacecraft have been selected for pioneering missions with JAXA, the U.S. Space Force, the European Space Agency, the UK Space Agency, and Eutelsat. As more satellite operators adopt on‑orbit servicing to routinely inspect, relocate, remove, and extend the life of spacecraft, the potential of a circular space economy — and a future of no waste in space — is being unlocked. Headquartered in Japan, Astroscale has a global presence with subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Israel. Find out more about Astroscale at https://www.astroscale.com