LEAD ENGINEER - SR. RESEARCH ENGINEER - ADCS/GNC

Southwest Research Institute; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, TX, seeks an experienced ADCS/GNC engineer to design and deploy attitude control systems, develop high-fidelity simulations, and support mission design and flight operations. You will lead technical teams, collaborate with systems, propulsion, avionics and flight software groups, and contribute to ADCS concepts across the full mission lifecycle.

This on-site role requires 6–10 years of hands-on ADCS/GNC experience, strong programming in

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's or a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Space Systems Engineering, and Electrical Engineering or related engineering degree field with experience in ADCS/GNC.
• 6–10 years: Demonstrated technical expertise in simulation development and control/guidance design for spacecraft, including 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.

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.

Skills

GNC/ADCS expertise

Simulation development

Flight dynamics analysis

Education

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

Tools

Python

C++

MATLAB

Job description

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

Additional Information

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

Equal Opportunity Statement

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