GNC Engineer

Spire Global, Inc.; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Spire Global, Inc. is looking for a GNC/AOCS Engineer - Avionics in Glasgow, UK. In this role, you'll be part of a technical team responsible for the lifecycle of GNC products, including designing flight sensors and actuators. Ideal candidates will have a strong foundation in spacecraft dynamics and experience with hardware integration. The position operates in a hybrid work model, requiring at least three days in the office. Spire is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Experience writing flight software.
• Experience designing and implementing Kalman filters.
• Experience with C or C++ development for embedded systems.
• Experience with spacecraft design.
• Experience with spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing.
• Experience with spacecraft operations and maintenance.
• Experience identifying and resolving system anomalies.
• Experience creating and maintaining integration and test campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight sensors.
• Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight actuators.
• Maintain simulation models for GNC subcomponents.
• Technical ownership of GNC avionics peripherals.
• Work with cross-functional teams to integrate avionics solutions.
• Develop component qualification and acceptance processes.

Skills

Experience with flight sensors for spacecraft attitude determination/estimation

Experience with actuators

Strong foundation in spacecraft attitude dynamics and control algorithms

Hands-on experience with hardware and familiarity with hardware-in-the-loop simulation

Familiarity with Linux development environment

Working with external engineering contractors

Job description

As a GNC/AOCS Engineer - Avionics at Spire, you will operate as part of a technical team who maintains responsibility across the full lifecycle of the Spire GNC product and its subcomponents. The GNC team interfaces directly with many engineering groups to conduct R&D, design, manufacturing, and operations activities, ultimately ensuring all current and future spacecraft systems satisfy their mission. Ideal candidates will embrace the commercialization of nanosatellite systems and adapt to low-cost, fast-paced systems design, development, and implementation methodologies that set Spire apart from our competition. In this fast-paced environment, the design to launch cycle is measured in weeks and months, not years!

What You’ll Do

• Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight sensors, including magnetometers, sun sensors, inertial measurement devices, Earth sensors, and/or star trackers.
• Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight actuators, including magnetic torque elements, reaction wheels, and propulsion systems.
• Design, implement and maintain simulation models for GNC subcomponents in our 6-DOF simulation environment.
• Technical ownership of current and future GNC avionics peripherals, supporting troubleshooting, design and updates to improve reliability and performance.
• Working closely with cross-functional teams, including hardware, software, and systems engineers, to integrate avionics solutions into the larger platform.
• Develop component qualification and acceptance processes and be hands-on in laboratory and manufacturing environments.

Key Skills

• Experience with flight sensors for spacecraft attitude determination/estimation.
• Experience with actuators, including actuator sizing, modelling, design and integration.
• A solid foundation in spacecraft attitude dynamics and control algorithms, with emphasis sensor ingestions and actuator command calculation.
• Experience working hands‑on with HW and familiarity with hardware‑in‑the‑loop simulation.
• Have experience or familiarity with the Linux development environment.
• Have experience working with external engineering contractors.

Preferred Skills

• Experience writing flight software.
• Experience designing and/or implementing Kalman filters and feedback control for attitude estimation.
• Experience with C or C++ development for embedded systems.
• Experience with spacecraft design.
• Experience with spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing.
• Experience with spacecraft operations and maintenance.
• Experience identifying and resolving system anomalies.
• Experience creating and maintaining integration and test campaigns for attitude determination and control systems, including hardware and software.

Spire operates a hybrid work model, and this position will require you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Access to US export‑controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Spire will arrange the necessary licenses—this is not something candidates need to have before applying.

Spire is a global company and is proud to be an equal‑opportunity employer, committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.