Spacecraft Attitude Control Systems Engineer – TS/SCI Clearance w/CI Poly

Leffler Consulting; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Leffler Consulting, based in Chantilly, VA, seeks a Spacecraft Attitude Control Systems Engineer to support the Space & Launch Division of a U.S. IC agency.

On-site role requiring TS/SCI with polygraph, focusing on ACS subsystem analysis, architecture, and verification, including Kalman-filter based attitude determination and hardware evaluation. The engineer will participate in system reviews, design maturity assessments, and collaboration with branch leads to ensure requirements traceability

Qualifications

• 10+ years relevant work experience.
• Experience in the design and integration of satellite buses.
• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph.

Responsibilities

• Support ACS subsystem design, integration, and test.
• Review and coordinate changes to specs and system requirements.
• Provide expert analysis on ACS for new satellites/payloads.
• Engage with prime contractor and program leads.
• Evaluate contractor ECPs and assess risks.
• Review readiness for spacecraft manufacturing and testing.

Skills

Attitude control systems

Control theory

Kalman filter

Astrodynamics

Matlab/Simulink

Python

STK

Orbit design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, astronautical, or mechanical engineering

Tools

Star trackers

Control moment gyroscopes

Torque rods

GPS receivers

Launch operations

NASTRAN

Job description

Spacecraft Attitude Control Systems Engineer – TS/SCI Clearance w/CI Poly Required

Location

Chantilly, VA

Job Description

Leffler Consulting is seeking a Spacecraft Attitude Control Systems Engineer to support the Vehicle Engineering Branch with the Space and Launch (“S&L”) Division of an Intelligence Community (IC) agency. S&L provides technical and programmatic support to coordinate and execute acquisition, vehicle engineering, adjunct payload accommodation, and integration, test, and launch functions for spacecraft and adjunct payloads. Work will be performed on-site with the customer and requires an active TS/SCI clearance with an adjudicated polygraph. The candidate will be an integral participant in subsystem analysis, architecture, requirements development, and verification of Attitude Control Systems. Key areas of focus include control theory systems engineering, review of contractor designs, and evaluation of operating modes. Note that this role requires a background in astrodynamics analysis such as orbit design and orbit-attitude interaction.

Duties

• Support the customerin the design, integration, and test of the ACS subsystem
• Review and coordinate all changes to specifications, lCDs and system-level requirements documentation for the ACS subsystem
• Provide expert advice/analysis on ACS considerations for new satellite/payload developments
• Coordinate with bus development POC, S&L subsystem leads, branch chiefs, and division chiefs
• Provide technical evaluation of ACS efforts in contractor Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs)
• Identify and assess emerging risks; develop and evaluate proposed burn-down plans
• Provide expert advice/analysis on accommodation considerations for new satellite/payload developments
• Review prime contractor readiness to proceed into spacecraft manufacturing and test
• Support factory integration and test activitiesas needed
• Provide support to launch and satellite on-orbit testas needed
• Attend contractor milestone reviews (e.g. PDR, CDR, pre-test, pre-ship and other meetings) to provide technically based recommendations regarding satisfaction of review entrance and exit criteria
• Attend system-level design reviews and program management reviews to assess design maturity, requirements compliance, and to provide informed technical recommendations to the USG
• Attend Vehicle Engineering branch meetings
• Support the customer in the review of financial and earned value reports
• Develop productive relationships with prime contractor counterparts, functional counterparts, and other spacecraft subsystem subject matter experts
• Perform other duties as assigned to support corporate initiatives
• Knowledge of satellite attitude control algorithms (e.g. Kalman filter based attitude determination, Control Moment Gyroscope steering algorithms, multi-body dynamics, controls-structures interactions)
• Knowledge of astrodynamics applications (e.g. orbit determination, orbit maintenance, orbit design)
• Knowledge of attitude control hardware requirements, manufacture and test to include control moment gyroscopes, star trackers, torque rods, thrusters, and moving mechanical actuators

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, astronautical, or mechanical engineering

Required Experience

• 10+ years relevant work experience
• Experience in the design and integration of satellite buses
• Knowledgeable of launch and flight operations of space vehicles
• Working knowledge of control theory, reaction wheel/control moment gyro, star sensor/tracker, inertial reference units/sensors, sun sensor, magnetic torque rod, GPS receiver, and control algorithm development
• Solid understanding of attitude control related hardware
• In depth knowledge of Matlab/Simulink, STK, and Python
• Knowledge of NASTRAN is preferred but not required

Desired Education

• Refer to “Required Education”

Founded in 2001, Leffler Consulting is a women-owned small business (WOSB) headquartered in
Chantilly, Virginia. We provide financial management and life-cycle budget and cost support to our
nation’s most critical programs in the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD).
Leffler Consulting specializes in all areas of financial management, audit readiness, and process
improvement and controls while also providing a broad array of support functions critical to supporting
the mission requirements of our customers. We offer competitive salaries and a generous benefits
package, including medical, dental, vision, and disability coverage, paid leave, paid holidays, an
employee assistance program, and an employee referral program.

Copyright 2024 Leffler Consulting, LLC; Chantilly, VA