Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer

Spire Global; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family Leave

Learning & development

Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)

Fitness Reimbursement

Time off policy

Job summary

Spire Global is seeking a GNC/AOCS Engineer to own the full lifecycle of the GNC product and its subcomponents. You will design, evaluate and implement flight sensors and actuators, and develop 6-DOF models in a fast-paced nanosatellite environment.

You will work cross-functionally with hardware, software and systems teams to ensure reliability and mission success, with hands-on lab and manufacturing collaboration and ongoing system qualification efforts.

Qualifications

• Experience with external contractors and labs for avionics or spacecraft systems.
• Familiarity with the Linux development environment.
• Experience with actuators, including sizing, modelling, design and integration.
• Experience with hardware-in-the-loop simulation.
• Experience with flight sensors for spacecraft attitude determination/estimation.
• Solid foundation in spacecraft attitude dynamics and control algorithms.
• Experience developing software using C/Python and flight software.
• Experience with Kalman filters and feedback control for attitude estimation.
• Experience with spacecraft design and embedded C/C++ for systems.
• Experience with spacecraft assembly, integration and testing.
• Experience with spacecraft operations and maintenance.
• Experience identifying and resolving system anomalies.
• Experience creating integration and test campaigns for attitude determination and control systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight sensors and actuators.
• Develop and maintain 6-DOF GNC simulation models.
• Provide technical ownership of GNC avionics peripherals and improve reliability.
• Collaborate with hardware, software and systems engineers to integrate avionics into the platform.
• Develop qualification and acceptance processes and work hands-on in lab and manufacturing environments.

Skills

GNC engineering

actuators integration

sensor fusion

C/C++ development

Kalman filters

attitude control

lab testing

Tools

Linux development

Job description

• As a GNC/AOCS Engineer 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
• 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

Benefits

• Name your own satellite: Be remembered throughout time by choosing a name for a LEMUR satellite.
• Family Leave: Family is important. Our parental and family leave is designed to let you make the most of those precious moments.
• Learning & development: Spire more than encourages and supports ongoing personal improvement and a growth mindset, we welcome it!
• Launch Attendance: One of the perks from launching satellites into space is that Spire often has VIP access to view the launch.
• Generous time off policy: Take the time you need. Our flexible time-off policy promotes a positive work-life balance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Our EAP makes sure you have access to support and counseling sessions whenever you need it.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP): Our ESPP provides eligible employees with an opportunity to purchase Spire shares through accumulated contributions.
• Fitness Reimbursement: Spire encourages fitness activity to promote employee well-being with reimbursed gym membership expenses.
• Employee Referral Program: Spire is always looking for outstanding people to join our team, and you can help and be awarded a referral bonus.
• Healthy snacks & beverages: To help our employees to be as productive as possible, we provide healthy snacks and beverages in each of our offices.

Have experience working with external engineering contractorsHave experience or familiarity with the Linux development environmentExperience with actuators, including actuator sizing, modelling, design and integrationExperience working hands-on with HW and familiarity with ‘hardware-in-the-loop` simulation- Experience with flight sensors for spacecraft attitude determination/estimation- A solid foundation in spacecraft attitude dynamics and control algorithms, with emphasis sensor ingestions and actuator command calculation- Experience developing software using C/Python- Experience writing flight software- Experience designing and/or implementing Kalman filters and feedback control for attitude estimation- Experience with spacecraft design- Experience with C or C++ development for embedded systems- 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