LEAD ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - ADCS/GNC

Southwest Research Institute; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute seeks a Lead Engineer - Sr. Research Engineer in ADCS/GNC to design and deploy advanced attitude control systems for space missions. You will develop high‑fidelity simulations and guide mission design, while leading a technical team across disciplines.

The role requires deep experience in ADCS/GNC, flight software or HIL environments, and collaboration with propulsion, avionics, and systems teams to ensure robust spacecraft performance.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelors or a Masters in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Space Systems Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
• 6-10 years: expertise in simulation development and control/guidance for spacecraft; deployment to flight or on-orbit operations.
• 6-10 years: experience implementing GNC/ADCS algorithms in flight software or hardware-in-the-loop environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine spacecraft ADCS/GNC architectures, algorithms, and flight software; build and validate 3D/6DOF simulations.
• Perform spacecraft dynamics and control analysis, including performance assessments and sensitivity studies.
• Support mission design activities, including trajectory design and maneuver planning.
• Participate in integration, verification, and validation activities and flight readiness efforts.
• Collaborate with multiple subsystems to ensure robust end-to-end spacecraft performance.
• Document designs and results; present findings to cross-functional teams.

Skills

Python

C++

MATLAB

ADCS/GNC

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Aerospace/Space Systems/Electrical Engineering

Job description

LEAD ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - ADCS/GNC

05-00299

Who We Are:

The Spacecraft Development Department is a group of innovative engineers, program managers, and technicians developing unique spacecraft solutions for challenging space missions. We design and fabricate custom solutions to explore the boundaries of science or solve complex problems not yet delivered by industry to accommodate a variety of payloads.

Objectives of this Role:

• Designing and deploying GNC/ADCS systems, developing high fidelity simulations, and supporting mission design and flight operations.
• Building and leading highly technical teams.
• Work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team to conceptualize, design, analyze, implement, and verify ADCS across the full mission lifecycle
• ADCS design team will collaborate with the Project Systems Engineer and other space craft subsystems during requirements definition, architecture trade studies, detailed design, integration and test, deployment, and on orbit operations.
• Play a key role in GNC/ADCS for spacecraft and serve as a technical authority while still executing detailed analysis and development work.

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities:

• Develop and refine spacecraft ADCS/GNC architectures, algorithms, and flight software and build, maintain and validate 3D3DOF/6DOF simulations to support design, verification, and mission analysis.
• Perform spacecraft dynamics and control analysis, including performance assessments, sensitivity studies, and hardware/sensor trade offs.
• Support mission design activities, including trajectory design, maneuver planning, and operational concept development.
• Participate in integration, verification, and validation activities, including hardware in the loop simulations and flight readiness efforts.
• Support test and flight operations: configuration of ADCS/GNC systems for flight, real time monitoring, anomaly investigation, etc.
• Document designs, analyses, test plans, and results; present findings to cross functional engineering teams, management, and customers.
• Collaborate with systems, propulsion, structures, avionics, and flight software teams to ensure robust end to end spacecraft performance.
• Contribute to the development and analysis of future ADCS concepts, architectures, and enabling technologies.

Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelors or a Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Space Systems Engineering, and Electrical Engineering or related engineering degree field with experience in Attitude Determination and Control (ADCS) and/or Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC).
• 6-10 years: Demonstrated technical expertise in simulation development and control/guidance design for spacecraft, including successful deployment to flight or on orbit operations.
• 6-10 years: Experience implementing GNC/ADCS algorithms in flight software or hardware in the loop environments.
• 6-10 years: Proficiency in: Python, C++, or Matlab for analysis and development.
• A valid/clear driver's license is required.

Special Requirements:

Applicant selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.

Job Locations: San Antonio, Texas

For more information about this division, visit the Space Systems home page.

For benefits information at our San Antonio location, click here .
For benefits information at all other locations, click here .

An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and veteran status.