GNC Engineer ADCS Starshield

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible with the ultimate goal ofenabling human life on Mars.

GNC ENGINEER ATTITUDE DETERMINATION AND CONTROL SYSTEM (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceXs Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use Starshield is designed for government use with an initial focus on earth observation communications and hosted payloads.

As an engineer on this team you will bring a passion and expertise in areas like spacecraft attitude dynamics and control orbit and attitude navigation filtering orbital mechanics spacecraft systems design and software development to support the Starshield Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) GNC team.

There are several subteams within Starshield GNC with different focus areas. The ADCS team focuses on vehicle GNC software and hardware design analysis testing and onorbit operations with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all Starshield vehicles reliably and intelligently balance payload pointing needs sensor availability momentum management thermal constraints and power generation demand across the entire mission timeline. On any satellite the ADCS is an extremely central and crucial subsystem that is key to mission success. In this role you will be working on a highimpact team whose success is paramount to the longterm flourishing and continuous improvement of the entire Starshield program. Come help us write the software that flies Starshield satellites and enables mission success!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design and implementation of satellite GNC software that can facilitate all mission concepts of operations across all phases of flight including offnominal/contingency scenarios
• Design of concepts of operations (CONOPs) that intelligently balance thermal constraints power budgets momentum management satellitetoground and satellitetosatellite contact and payloadpointing 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 navigation and control performance
• Update and maintain GNC software configurations for a variety of minor satellite design revisions and mission sets
• High fidelity time domain 6DOF modeling and simulation of satellite 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 integrated hardwareintheloop (HITL) testing efforts including but not limited to test case design data review automation and modeling fidelity improvements
• Navigation filtering and control systems design and optimization
• Spacecraft design activities related to ADCS sensor and actuator hardware sizing and layout
• Develop validate and improve upon complex sensor actuator and dynamics models for use in 6DOF simulation analysis
• Maintain a robust and tight interface with other disciplines and subsystems (e.g. thermal power communications) to ensure a good and consistent systemlevel design

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree in aerospace engineering computer science/software engineering or an engineering discipline
• Software development experience in C Python and/or MATLAB/Simulink

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Masters or PhD in aerospace engineering computer science/software engineering or an engineering discipline
• Basic familiarity with the GNC discipline and associated technical fundamentals
• Extremely strong technical fundamentals in the areas of spacecraft attitude and orbit dynamics navigation filtering and/or control systems design
• Capable of identifying and solving complex problems with a high degree of autonomy
• Willingness to take on a large scope of ownership over complex problems and solve them in a multidisciplinary fashion striving for system and missionlevel optimality
• Ability to work in a fastpaced dynamic engineering environment with a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement
• Demonstrated experience owning designing testing and flying realworld GNC engineering solutions preferably on space vehicles
• Experience with onorbit space vehicle operations commanding debugging and use of flight telemetry to track performance metrics and validate simulation models
• Familiarity with orbit navigation filtering using GNSS measurements and attitude navigation using star trackers/rate gyros
• Strong understanding of unit testing regression testing and CI/CD within a complex software development environment
• Familiarity with GNC algorithm unit testing and implementation in flight software
• Experience with Git Linux Confluence and Jira
• Active TS/SCI clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Able to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical path development and/or critical onorbit operations
• An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so you will be subject to preemployment drug and random drug and alcohol test

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
GNC Engineer/Level I: $120000.00 $145000.00/per year
GNC Engineer/Level II: $140000.00 $170000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a casebycase basis and may vary based on the following considerations: jobrelated knowledge and skills education and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for longterm incentives in the form of company stock stock options or longterm cash awards as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical vision and dental coverage access to a 401(k) retirement plan short & longterm disability insurance life insurance paid parental leave and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation & will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (aka green card holder) (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158 or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race color religion gender national origin/ethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity marital status mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceXs Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to.