GNC Engineer, ADCS (Starlink)

Redmond, WAfull time

On Site

$125k–$165k

H1B: no

SpaceX GNC Engineer on Starlink’s ADCS team responsible for software automation, operations, and system-level design to maintain satellite orientation throughout mission lifetime. Develops and implements GNC algorithms and software using C++ or Python.

Responsibilities

Develop highly reliable and performant GNC algorithms, simulations, tools, services, and dashboards using C++ or Python; Starlink GNC Engineers write actual production code, not just prototypes for transcription by another team
Participate in architecture, design, and code reviews
Bulk data analysis to review performance data from various elements of the Starlink constellation and network
Write high quality technical documentation of programs, algorithms, or analysis
Design and implementation of GNC software that can facilitate all mission concepts of operations across all phases of mission, including off-nominal/contingency scenarios
Design of concepts of operations (CONOPs) that intelligently balance thermal constraints, power budgets, momentum management, communications, and payload-pointing needs
Design, development, and flight software implementation of onboard GNC algorithms to achieve a high level of vehicle autonomy and fault tolerance while providing adequate translational and rotational navigation and control performance
Update and maintain GNC software configurations for a variety of minor vehicle design revisions and mission sets
High fidelity time domain 6DOF modeling and simulation of vehicle dynamics, sensors, actuators, algorithms, and all of their interactions
Monte Carlo simulation analysis to validate safe and reliable flight and quantify navigation and control performance
Heavy involvement in hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testing efforts, including but not limited to test case design, data review automation, and modeling fidelity improvements
Translational and Rotational state estimation and control systems design and optimization

Qualification

Bachelor's degree in computer scienceDevelopedCreative approach to problem solvingExperience with state estimation

Required

Bachelor's degree in computer science, aerospace, physics or an engineering discipline
Software development experience in either C++ or Python

Preferred

Some preferred skills and experience depend on the specific team within Starlink GNC.
Master's degree or PHD in an engineering discipline or physics
Developed, debugged and deployed software that has been used in real world applications/projects
Creative approach to problem solving, exceptional analytical skills and engineering fundamentals
Cradle to grave development of three axis stabilized spacecraft incorporating momentum, magnetic, and propulsive control
Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, including low thrust trajectory optimization and stationkeeping
Experience in verifying GNC algorithm performance via simulation, and validation of the simulation's models
Experience with state estimation, particularly attitude determination, orbit determination, GNSS, and radio navigation