Navigation & Orbital GNC Senior Engineer

AVIO; Colleferro; Hybrid; EUR 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Production bonus

Quality bonus

Participation bonus

Health insurance

Training plan

Canteen/bar

Smart working

Wellbeing program

Job summary

Avio is seeking a Senior GNC/AOCS Engineer to join the Control and Orbital Systems team. You will contribute to the design, validation, and qualification of GNC/AOCS systems for orbital platforms, service modules, and space missions.

In a multidisciplinary environment, you will collaborate with System Engineering, Flight Software, Propulsion, and Operations teams to support all phases of the system development and qualification cycle.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years in GNC/AOCS design for satellites and orbital platforms.
• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink and C programming.

Responsibilities

• Architectural Design: Define and optimize GNC/AOCS architectures for satellites.
• Algorithms and Control: Design attitude control, Kalman filters, Safe Mode logic.
• Modelling and Simulation: Develop high-fidelity simulators in MATLAB/Simulink.
• Hardware Selection: Define requirements for sensors and actuators.
• Verification and Testing: Plan MIL, SIL, and HIL test campaigns.
• Operational Support: Define flight procedures for LEOP and in‑orbit commissioning.
• Mentorship: Train junior and mid‑level engineers.

Education

Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering

5+ years GNC/AOCS design

Cross-disciplinary knowledge

MATLAB/Simulink

C programming

MS Office

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

Avio is a leading company in the design and development of launchers and solid, liquid, and cryogenic propulsion systems. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Colleferro (Rome), the company has an international presence in Italy, France, and French Guyana. With over 1,500 professionals—30% of whom are engaged in research and development—Avio represents a true Italian excellence in the field of launchers and defense programs. The experience and know-how gained over more than 50 years of activity in the space sector enable us to compete with the top players in the industry. Today, we are the only Italian company among the limited number of countries worldwide capable of designing and manufacturing space launch vehicles.

We are constantly looking for curious, ambitious, and motivated professionals with a strong interest in innovation.

Role

Within the Engineering Department, Avio is seeking a Senior GNC/AOCS Engineer to join the Control and Orbital Systems team. The selected candidate will contribute to the design, validation, and qualification of GNC/AOCS systems for orbital platforms, service modules, and space missions.

Working in a multidisciplinary environment, the candidate will collaborate with System Engineering, Flight Software, Propulsion, and Operations teams to support all phases of the system development and qualification cycle.

The position will be classified as Senior GNC/ AOCS Engineer, in recognition of the candidate’s previous experience in internationally relevant satellite and orbital programmes.

The successful candidate will be assigned the following responsibilities:

• Architectural Design: Define and optimize the architecture of GNC/AOCS systems for satellites and space platforms.
• Algorithms and Control: Design, analyse, and implement attitude control algorithms, including Kalman filters, robust control approaches, and Safe Mode logic.
• Modelling and Simulation: Develop and maintain high-fidelity mathematical simulators (FES) in MATLAB/Simulink.
• Hardware Selection: Define technical requirements and manage trade-offs for the selection of sensors, such as Star Trackers, Sun Sensors, and IMUs, and actuators, such as reaction wheels, magnetorquers, and thrusters.
• Verification and Testing: Plan and execute software and hardware test campaigns, including experience with MIL, SIL, and HIL cycles.
• Operational Support: Contribute to the definition of flight procedures for LEOP and in‑orbit commissioning phases.
• Mentorship: Provide technical guidance and training support to Junior and Mid‑level engineers within the team.

Technical Requirements

• Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or equivalent disciplines.
• Solid professional experience of at least 5 years in GNC/AOCS design, development, and validation activities for satellite systems, orbital platforms, and space navigation systems. A PhD will be considered an asset.
• Cross-disciplinary knowledge of the main areas of space engineering, with particular reference to: orbital flight mechanics, guidance, navigation, and control space propulsion systems, structures and thermodynamics.
• Excellent knowledge of calculation and simulation tools, with particular reference to MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience with C programming language.
• Knowledge of IT tools and software (MS Office package).

Further Information

For this position, a salary band is defined, ranging from a minimum of €45,000 to a maximum of €55,000, based on objective and neutral factors, in accordance with the provisions of the National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL) for the Chemical Industry, applied to the Professional role.

In addition, the following benefits are provided:

• Production bonus and quality bonus applicable to all employment categories
• Annual Participation Bonus, calculated based on the employee’s category and attendance in the previous year, with the option to convert it into welfare benefits
• Supplementary health insurance
• Dedicated training plan
• Company canteen/bar
• Smart working (up to 6 days per month)
• Wellbeing program: Avio People Caring (various initiatives and agreements dedicated to our employees)

We promote an inclusive, fair and respectful working environment.

Our recruitment processes are based on objective and neutral criteria, without any discrimination related to gender, age, origin, orientation, identity, or any other personal characteristics.

This job posting is open to all individuals, regardless of gender, in accordance with Legislative Decree 198/2006.

We reject any form of discrimination and strongly believe in equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion.

Working at Avio means pursuing a passion for a dream called space: a world without borders, to which Avio contributes through the advancement of its launchers, enabling extraordinary progress for humanity. It means being part of a stimulating and highly technological environment, where you can contribute to innovative and international projects while developing highly qualified professional skills. We offer training and career paths aimed at fostering growth and acquiring new know-how, with the opportunity to take part in unique international projects.