GNC SpacecraftPayload Control Systems Analyst

Job Summary
The Vehicle Systems Division (VSD) sits at the intersection of space vehicle concepts and the enterprise data behind both current and future systems. From this position VSD delivers innovative crosscutting research and development; technical evaluations during the acquisition process; both concept and tailoreddesign analysis; assembly integration and test support; and operational/mission support. Comprised primarily of highly trained mechanical aerospace computer science and electrical engineers VSD provides national expertise in the areas of vehicle engineering; guidance navigation and controls; robotics; electromechanical devices; embedded systems; fluid mechanics; propulsion; thermal control; mechanisms; structures; structural dynamics; and dynamic environments.

Within this division the Control Analysis Department (CAD) focuses on providing satellite attitude and payload pointing estimation and control system analysis for a wide variety of space programs/systems ranging from DoD and NRO to commercial. Applications include small pathfinding CubeSats with prototype payloads (weighing a few kilograms total) all the way up to more exquisite GPS constellations upon which countless users rely every day. In response to the rapidly evolving space environment of today CAD moves with agility to leverage stateoftheart analysis tools techniques and knowledge to outpace the threat of tomorrow. As part of the Aerospace Corporation FFRDC however CAD ensures such agile approaches are wellanchored in heritage proficiencies of space vehicle attitude control dynamics and estimation and payload pointing. From this fundamental foundation this department engages in cuttingedge research and applies modern methods to emerging and related topics such as artificial intelligence computer vision and robotics to solve new and increasingly challenging problems.

Our team is seeking a GNC Spacecraft/Payload Control Systems Analyst (Member of Technical Staff /Senior Member of Technical Staff Guidance Navigation & Control Engineering) that will work closely with internal and external stakeholders supporting all phases of a program lifecycle: conceptual studies prototyping source selection development and operations.

Work Model

This is a fulltime position based in El Segundo CA offering a hybrid work model that combines 34 regular onsite workdays and remote flexibility as business and customer needs allow.

What Youll Be Doing

• Engage in design simulation analysis and evaluation of spacecraft and payload control systems on a variety of National Security Space programs civil programs and commercial programs

• Support concept development trade studies source selections requirements analyses risk assessments design analyses simulation development prototyping test planning and operations support and anomaly resolution

• Communicate technical results both orally and in writing interacting directly with government customers program management and contractors

• Research develop and document new analysis tools and techniques

• Engage with subject matter experts in continuous learning to drive the stateoftheart technical analysis

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the GNC Spacecraft/Payload Control Systems Analyst (Member of Technical Staff Guidance Navigation & Control Engineering):

• Masters degree in Aerospace Engineering Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Computer Science or related disciplineis required

• A minimum of 2 years of applicable professional or industry experience is required

• Graduate level coursework and/or indepth handson experience in one or more of the following: control system design and analysis estimation theory or advanced dynamics

• Experience with developing control and dynamics simulations

• Proficiency with Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink

• Working knowledge with C/C

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance which is issued by the U.S. Government.U.S. citizenship is to obtain a security clearance.

Transcripts are required for candidates with 5 or less years of professional industry experience postgraduation from Bachelors/Masters/PhD degree. Please be sure to upload both Undergrad and Graduate transcripts. Minimum GPA of 3.0is required to be considered for this role due to the nature of the work.

In addition to the above the minimum requirements for the GNC Spacecraft/Payload Control Systems Analyst (Senior Member of Technical Staff Guidance Navigation & Control Engineering)

• A minimum of 5 years of applicable professional or industry experience is required

• Demonstrates strong communication skills e.g. conference presentations journal publications technical memorandums etc.

• Experience leading projects managing resources and communicating status to stakeholders

• Should be able to operate fully autonomously

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• PhD degree in Aerospace Engineering Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering Computer Science or related discipline is preferred

• 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scaleis strongly preferred

• Proficiency with software development: version control (Git) crossplatform compatibility (Linux Windows Mac) ROS / Gazebo containerization (Docker) and distributed computing

• Experience with special topics including but not limited to:

• Rendezvous proximity operations and docking (RPOD) scenarios

• Computer vision algorithms image processing pointcloud analysis

• Mobile robotics guidance algorithms trajectory optimization

• Simultaneous localization & mapping (SLAM) unscented Kalman filters (UKFs) particle filters factor graphs

• Data science artificial intelligence machine learning neural networks

• Proficiency with one or more of the following:

Spacecraft attitude determination and control

Payload pointing estimation and control

Kalman filtering and stochastic processes

Advanced control techniques and applications

Modeling and simulation of control systems

Multibody and flexible body dynamics

Implementation testing deploying and calibration of control systems

• A current and active DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance which is issued by the U.S. Government is strongly preferred. U.S. citizenship is to obtain a security clearance.