Attitude Determination and System Engineer

Lynk; Washington; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Lynk is seeking an ADCS Engineer to design, implement, and optimize attitude determination and control systems for our satellite constellation. You will develop system-level designs, flight code, and lab tests to support ADCS development.

You will evaluate sensors and actuators, support ground and space operations concepts, and help deliver reliable, high-performance ADCS components for missions from lab to launch.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in physics, engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience with satellite attitude determination and/or control systems.
• Hands-on experience with space hardware/software projects, preferably ADCS.
• Knowledge of sensors (IMUs, magnetometers, star trackers) and actuators (magnetorquers, reaction wheels).
• Experience with flight guidance, navigation and control software and propulsion concepts is a plus.
• Proficient in Rust, C, Python, MATLAB, or similar; comfortable on Linux.

Responsibilities

• Evolve ADCS architecture, including sensors and effectors, for the constellation.
• Refine Operations concepts for satellite attitude determination and control systems.
• Interface with Systems Engineering to inform network design based on ADCS performance.
• Support development of 6 DOF simulation used to evaluate ADCS.
• Analyze performance requirements, noise, reliability, redundancy, and fault management.
• Select and evaluate sensors (rate sensors, magnetometers, sun/ horizon sensors) and actuators.
• Determine sensor/effector types, quantity, and placement on spacecraft.
• Design and implement algorithms and software for different pointing modes and control scenarios.
• Advance ground and space operation concepts for ADCS and conduct integration/tests.
• Plan payload testing configurations and support lab and in-orbit testing.
• Assist satellite integration, testing, and delivery to launch provider.
• Develop and maintain technical documentation for ADCS architecture and development.

Skills

Satellite ADCS components

IMUs

Magnetometers

Star trackers

Reaction wheels

Programming languages

Linux / Unix

Microcontroller programming

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher in physics, engineering, or related field

Job description

About Lynk

Lynk is the inventor of satellite direct to standard phone technology aka sat2phone, and has the world’s only commercial license from the FCC to operate a commercial sat2phone system. Today, Lynk allows mobile network operators’ subscribers to send and receive text messages to and from space via standard unmodified, mobile devices. Lynk’s service has been tested and proven on all seven continents, has regulatory approvals in more than 30 countries and is currently being deployed commercially based on more than 40 MNO commercial service contracts covering approximately 50 countries.

Our technology will enable all 8 billion people on the planet to stay connected with the existing standard phone in their pocket. Everywhere. No matter what.

By joining Lynk, you will have the opportunity to directly touch the lives of billions. Your mission will be to bring mobile broadband to billions, pull hundreds of millions out of poverty, and save countless lives.

Job Summary

As an ADCS Engineer at Lynk, you will be responsible for the analysis, design, implementation, optimization and enhancement of satellite attitude determination and control systems for the satellites in our constellation. Some of your work products will include satellite ADCS system level design, flight code and algorithm design, ADCS component evaluations, such as sensors, effectors, etc., ADCS component design, full hardware in the loop simulation of satellite dynamics in lab, and design of lab test environments and set ups to support ADCS development and testing.

Core Responsibilities

• Continue to evolve Lynk’s satellite ADCS architecture including components and systems that provide both relative and absolute attitude measurements.
• Refine the Concept of Operations for the satellite attitude determination and control system and related ground systems.
• Interface with Systems Engineering team to inform constellation and network architecture and design based on satellite attitude determination and control system performance.
• Support development of the 6 DOF simulation used to support attitude determination and control system evaluation.
• Perform analyses to determine satellite ADCS component performance requirements including performance characteristics, such as sizing, accuracy, sensor noise, reliability, etc., redundancy, and fault management options.
• Specify, evaluate, and select satellite attitude determination sensors which may include rate sensors, magnetometers, sun sensors, horizon sensors, thermal sensors, and star trackers.
• Specify, evaluate, and select satellite attitude determination effectors which may include magnetorquers, reaction wheels, gravity gradient booms, and even propulsive components.
• Determine attitude determination sensor and effector types, number, and placement required on spacecraft.
• Design and implement algorithms and software to support various pointing modes and attitude control scenarios.
• Evolve Concept of Operations for both ground and space system operations needed to support satellite attitude determination and control.
• Perform integration and test of satellite ADCS components and software on the satellites and in the lab.
• Design and plan payload testing configurations on the ground when testing satellite attitude determination and control system performance both in-lab and in-orbit.
• Support satellite integration, testing, and delivery to launch provider
• Develop and maintain technical documentation for satellite ADCS architecture definition, design, and development.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in physics, engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience with satellite attitude determination and/or control systems.
• Recent participation in projects developing space hardware and software, preferably satellite attitude determination and/or control.
• In depth knowledge and hands on experience with satellite attitude determination and control system components such as IMUs, magnetometers, star trackers, reaction wheels, and magnetorquers.
• In depth knowledge of flight guidance navigation and control systems and software is a huge plus.
• In depth knowledge of satellite propulsion systems, propulsion system CONOPS, and trajectory planning is a huge plus.
• Programming Proficiency in one or more programming languages is required, such as Rust, C, Python, MATLAB, etc.
• Proficient in working with Linux based systems.
• Hands on experience with programming microcontrollers is desired.
• Must be good with computers. Fluent in Linux, Windows, and Mac OSX, very capable with Microsoft Office.
• Must be able to work independently and in a team environment.

ITAR Requirements:

To comply with U.S. Government export control regulations (ITAR), applicants must be one of the following: (i) a U.S. citizen or national, (ii) a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) a refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) an asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158. Individuals who do not meet these criteria must be eligible to obtain the necessary authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. For more information, please refer to the ITAR guidelines.

Learn about ITAR here.

Job Location

Washington, DC area.