Senior GNC Engineer: Spacecraft Attitude & Control

vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 169,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

Varda is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer to own the full life cycle of guidance, navigation, and control development—from design to hardware-in-the-loop tests and flight validation—based in El Segundo, CA.

You will perform simulations, Monte Carlo analyses, and work with an in-house aerospace framework to support end-to-end mission operations.

Strong C++/Python skills and a solid background in orbital mechanics are required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in GNC design, modeling, testing and flight operations.
• Strong programming skills in C++ and Python for simulation and tool development.
• Experience with orbital mechanics, modeling and simulation.
• Proven ability to anchor first-principles models to data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• ADCS performance specification including sizing of reaction wheels, torque rods, IMU/GPS, and star trackers.
• Design and implementation of autonomous satellite attitude control, collision avoidance, orbital rendezvous, burn planning and atmospheric re-entry algorithms.
• Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for the reentry of a space capsule.
• Develop 6 degree of freedom vehicle simulation using C++, Python and MATLAB/Simulink.
• Running Monte Carlo analysis to characterize performance of new vehicle and mission capabilities.
• Integration and testing of GNC sensors, actuators, and software in hardware-in-the-loop environment.
• Design and implementation of ground tooling necessary to facilitate fully automated maneuver responsibility and maneuver scheduling decisions.
• Monitoring on-orbit system performance; troubleshooting where necessary.
• Coordination with other spacecraft operators, 3rd party agencies, and the US government.

Skills

C++/Python

Orbital mechanics

GNC design

Modeling & simulation

Communication

Education

B.S. in aerospace/mechanical/electrical engineering or physics

Master's degree preferred

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

GMAT

POST2

Job description

Varda is seeking a Senior GNC Engineer to own the full life cycle of guidance, navigation, and control development—from design to hardware-in-the-loop tests and flight validation—based in El Segundo, CA.

You will perform simulations, Monte Carlo analyses, and work with an in-house aerospace framework to support end-to-end mission operations.

Strong C++/Python skills and a solid background in orbital mechanics are required.