Specialist, Mechanical Engineer - Dynamics Analyst (Space Optical Systems)

Specialist, Mechanical Engineer - Dynamics Analyst (Space Optical Systems)

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers' mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers' mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Location: Rochester NY or Wilmington, MA

Job Schedule: 9/80 (Every other Friday off!)

Relocation: Relocation assistance is available for qualified applicants

Job Description: Dynamics Analyst (GN&C/ACS/Controls/LOS/Jitter)

L3Harris is seeking a highly skilled Dynamics Analyst to perform design, analysis, modeling, and testing of high-performance controls for electro-mechanical and optical-mechanical systems with focus on Attitude Control Systems, Controls, LOS/Jitter, and/or dynamic testing. The analyst will use their experience to model, analyze and simulate dynamic systems, utilizing methodologies for a variety of dynamic systems, but with a primary focus on system-level interdisciplinary electro-mechanical optical systems. This includes, but is not limited to, actuated optical systems, high bandwidth steering mirror control, multidisciplinary system modeling and characterization, image stabilization, and closed loop state estimation.

Job responsibilities include:

• Control Theory: Applying classical and modern control theory concepts such as stability, feedback control, and robustness. Utilizing analysis tools like Bode, Nyquist, Nichols, pole-zero plots, root-locus, and frequency-response analysis.
• Control Systems: Conducting analysis, synthesis, development, and implementation of feedback control systems. This includes developing models as state-variable equations, transfer functions, and/or block diagrams to determine dynamic systems characteristics, and analyzing both time and frequency responses.
• Structural Dynamics and Vibration Analysis: Performing structural dynamics and vibration analysis, including random vibration and acoustic analysis, design, measurement, and computation of multi-degree-of-freedom systems.
• Computational Methods: Employing finite-element-based computational methods, dynamic testing methods, and modal analysis (both analytical and experimental).
• Optical Performance Analysis: Evaluating system-level optical performance related to pointing, smear, and jitter.
• Digital Signal Processing: Applying fundamental concepts and techniques of digital signal processing theory and its applications, including discrete-time signals, systems, and modern digital processing algorithms for both time-domain and frequency-domain methods.

Essential Functions:

• Model control systems as part of larger system simulations for electro-mechanical and opto-mechanical hardware
• Line-of-sight (LOS) control, attitude control, servo control, Kalman filtering
• Algorithm development, implementation, flight software development, mission simulation, verification and validation
• Multidisciplinary (hardware, electronics, and software) integrated system development and operation
• Dynamic stabilization\isolation, passive vibration control, active vibration control
• Model characterization and performance predictions\evaluations
• Modal\Random Vibration\Acoustic\Shock model predictions, testing and correlation
• Definition and documentation of system specifications

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or other related engineering or science degree and minimum 4 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 2 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 8 years of prior related experience.
• Professional experience with dynamic stabilization\isolation, passive vibration control, active vibration control.
• 2+ years of experience using MATLAB and Simulink.
• Professional experience with algorithm development and implementation for aerospace applications
• Ability to obtain a U.S. TS/SCI Security Clearance

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Active TS/SCI Clearance is preferred but not required
• Proficient in FE modeling and analysis tools, MATLAB, Simulink, C/C++
• Knowledge of astrodynamics principles relevant to remote sensing. Familiarity with space mission analysis and design impacts on remote sensing.
• Familiarity with key elements of modeling the end-to-end imaging chain of remote sensing systems, with particular focus on the LOS impacts on image quality.
• Preferred experience with real-time control implementation, and embedded C/C++ programming.