Senior Controls Engineer: Optical Beam Pointing for Mars

Relativity Space, Inc.; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 222,000; Full time

Job summary

Relativity Space, Inc. is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer for the Interplanetary Sciences Program in Long Beach, CA.

You will own optical beam pointing control algorithms for a high-precision communications mission to Mars, integrating sensor data, attitude estimates, and fast steering mirror actuation to achieve robust, jitter-resistant links. You will collaborate across communications, GNC, flight software, and spacecraft systems to validate performance from design through testing and

Qualifications

• Strong background in classical and modern control theory, state-space methods, and nonlinear control.
• Experience with spacecraft guidance, navigation, and control for launch vehicles or satellites.
• Experience developing sensor fusion and state estimation algorithms (Kalman filtering, observers).
• Proficient in at least one high-level language (C++, Rust) and scripting language (Python, Matlab).

Responsibilities

• Own the design, development, and implementation of optical beam pointing and control algorithms for the 2028 Mars Orbiter mission.
• Develop control systems that integrate optical sensor measurements, gyroscopic data, and attitude estimates for precise pointing.
• Design fast steering mirror control to reject jitter and maintain link performance in dynamic conditions.
• Develop sensor fusion/state estimation algorithms for robust pointing control.
• Define requirements, interfaces, and verification methods for pointing performance metrics.
• Create models and simulations to predict and verify system performance.
• Collaborate with flight software to define software requirements and interfaces.
• Support prototyping, ground testing, and hardware-in-the-loop verification.
• Serve as technical authority across teams and support on-orbit operations.

Skills

Control systems design

Kalman filtering

Sensor fusion

C++

Python

GNC concepts

Education

BS/MS/PhD in Aerospace/Electrical/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Python

C++

Job description

Relativity Space, Inc. is seeking a Senior Controls Engineer for the Interplanetary Sciences Program in Long Beach, CA.

You will own optical beam pointing control algorithms for a high-precision communications mission to Mars, integrating sensor data, attitude estimates, and fast steering mirror actuation to achieve robust, jitter-resistant links. You will collaborate across communications, GNC, flight software, and spacecraft systems to validate performance from design through testing and