GNC Engineer

Argo Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Argo Space in Los Angeles, CA is seeking a GNC Engineer to help architect the full simulation and flight control stack for refuellable in-space transport vehicles and other space systems.

You will drive mission-critical design studies, implement attitude determination, trajectory optimization, guidance and control algorithms, and hardware-in-the-loop testing, with hands-on prototyping and software development in C/C++/Python.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics required.
• Experience designing aerospace guidance, navigation, and control systems.
• Strong software development skills in C/C++/Python.
• Ability to work across teams and handle changing requirements.
• Experience with modeling, simulations, and verification in harsh environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop GNC simulations and flight control software.
• Conduct hardware-in-the-loop tests and validation.
• Drive trade studies for high-deltaV in-space transportation.
• Develop attitude determination and orbit control algorithms.
• Collaborate with spacecraft systems engineers to finalize requirements.

Skills

GNC systems

C/C++

Python

Systems engineering

Communication

Autonomous systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics

Tools

GMAT

STK

Astrogator

FreeFlyer

Job description

As a GNC Engineer at Argo, you will be a member of the team architecting the full simulation and flight control stack for Argo's refuellable in-space transport vehicles and other space systems. You will help drive the overall spacecraft system architecture, execute vehicle design and higher-level transportation system trade studies, and implement the spacecraft’s attitude determination, trajectory optimization, guidance, and control systems. You will actively contribute to the full life cycle of GNC development at Argo, from early architectural decisions and design through to hardware in the loop testing, on-vehicle functionality, and flight operations. This will include development of Argo’s high fidelity multi-degree of freedom simulation and test framework, supporting Monte Carlo analyses, and the development of the core GNC algorithms that fly our spacecraft.

Responsibilities

• Drive mission performance for Argo’s high-deltaV, refuellable transport spacecraft to make in-space transportation abundant and affordable
• Drive rapid execution and iteration efforts that put our spacecraft in orbit quickly
• Hands-on prototyping, troubleshooting, and testing of simulations, flight algorithms, and hardware in the loop testing
• Develop simulation and modeling tools to support vehicle and GNC trade studies
• Develop novel algorithms for low thrust trajectory optimization, RPOD, and spacecraft attitude control and orbit determination
• Select and size actuators and sensors to support spacecraft attitude control
• Negotiate requirements by having a deep understanding of the company and mission objectives and providing alternative solutions
• Conduct design reviews, test readiness reviews, and flight readiness reviews with a heavy emphasis on technical excellence

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in relevant engineering or physics discipline
• Capable of maintaining flexibility in direction under changing circumstances
• Track record of delivering novel, excellent technical products
• Demonstrated knowledge in designing, modeling, testing, and flying aerospace guidance, navigation, and control systems
• Understanding of orbital mechanics, modeling and simulation, and software development and modeling skills, particularly in C / C++ / Python
• Proven system engineering and configuration management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• 1+ years of experience of university design teams or internships designing complex control systems that operate in harsh environments (autonomous vehicles, drones, spacecraft, etc.)
• 2+ years of experience designing spacecraft control systems, algorithms, or trajectories
• 3+ years of experience designing complex control systems that operate in harsh environments (autonomous vehicles, drones, spacecraft, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with GMAT, AGI STK/Astrogator, FreeFlyer or similar trajectory design, analysis, and optimization tools
• Demonstrated experience with clean sheet GNC, simulation, software development, and conceptual spacecraft design, actuator sizing, and attitude determination and control
• Experience with spacecraft on-orbit operations
• Experience with rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking