Senior Spacecraft GN&C Engineer

About the Role We are seeking a Senior Spacecraft GN&C Engineer to own the implementation, maintenance, and validation of the mission’s end-to-end pointing control simulation for advanced space observatory missions. This is a hands-on modeling, simulation, and verification role. The engineer will implement the integrated pointing simulation, incorporate vendor models and assumptions, develop scripts for pointing verification, process simulation and test outputs, and generate evidence for subsystem and system-level requirement verification. The role will directly support the spacecraft pointing lead and will work closely with systems engineering, spacecraft bus, telescope, WCC, FSM, instrument, jitter, structural, science, AI&T, software, and mission operations teams. The ideal candidate has strong experience in spacecraft GN&C, AOCS/ADCS, control-system modeling, pointing systems and analysis, simulation development, and verification of precision pointing systems. Key responsibilities for this role include the following: \n End-to-End Pointing Control Simulation, Modeling, and Vendor Model Integration Own the implementation, maintenance, and validation of the mission’s integrated pointing control simulation. The simulation will be used to assess spacecraft attitude control, fine pointing, WCC-guided Fine Steering Mirror control, jitter sensitivity, line-of-sight stability, target tracking, control mode transitions, disturbance rejection, control stability margins, and pointing requirement compliance. Perform hands-on GN&C modeling and analysis using MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or similar tools, including control-loop analysis, frequency-domain analysis, time-domain simulations, Monte Carlo cases, sensitivity studies, model correlation, and performance trades Integrate GN&C, AOCS, WCC/guider, FSM, jitter, structural, and pointing models from internal teams and vendors Document key assumptions and limitations Ensure model inputs are technically consistent, traceable, and suitable for design trades, verification planning, AI&T, commissioning, operations support, and formal system-level pointing verification Pointing Verification Scripts, AI&T, Commissioning, and Operations Support Develop and maintain scripts, tools, and automated workflows for pointing verification at subsystem and system level. These tools will process simulation outputs, vendor analysis products, jitter data, test data, and telemetry-like data to evaluate pointing accuracy, pointing knowledge, line-of-sight stability, jitter, target tracking, mode transitions, and AOCS/FSM performance. Generate repeatable verification outputs, margin assessments, plots, reports, and evidence needed for formal V&V closure. Develop or adapt analysis tools for test-data processing, model validation, pointing-performance verification, commissioning checks, anomaly investigation, and performance trending during AI&T, launch readiness, commissioning, and operations Support subsystem- and system-level tests involving pointing modes, target acquisition, tracking, slew behavior, control mode transitions, FSM operation, WCC-guided FSM control, and operational pointing scenarios Jitter and Line-of-Sight Stability Support jitter and line-of-sight stability verification by ensuring disturbance sources, structural dynamics, reaction wheel behavior, isolation systems, FSM performance, WCC-FSM control loop, and payload sensitivities are properly represented in the simulation and analysis tools Help interpret jitter PSDs, disturbance transfer functions, control-loop interactions, and pointing stability results for use in engineering budgets, science simulations, and verification products. WCC, FSM, and AOCS Interfaces Support the analysis and verification of control interfaces between the spacecraft bus, WCC, telescope, FSM, payload, and instruments. This includes WCC-guided pointing, FSM behavior, control-loop timing, data latency, coordinate frames, transformations, pointing telemetry, control authority, and mode transitions Help close interface gaps, TBDs, TBCs, and open actions related to WCC–Bus AOCS, WCC–FSM, and other payload-control interfaces Expected Contributions The Senior Spacecraft GN&C Engineer will support the pointing lead by owning the technical implementation of the mission’s end-to-end pointing control simulation and the tools required for pointing verification. Near-term contributions will include implementing the integrated pointing simulation, incorporating vendor models and assumptions, developing verification scripts, supporting pointing budget updates, and generating verification evidence for AOCS, WCC, FSM, jitter, and payload-control performance. During AI&T, commissioning, and operations, this role will support model validation, test-data analysis, pointing-performance verification, commissioning procedures, anomaly investigation, and performance trending. For future missions, this role will help establish reusable GN&C simulation tools, verification scripts, pointing-analysis workflows, and model-validation practices. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Robotics, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical discipline. 7+ years of experience in spacecraft GN&C, AOCS/ADCS, control systems, dynamic modeling, pointing analysis, precision pointing systems, or related aerospace control applications. Hands-on experience implementing, maintaining, or using control-system simulations for spacecraft attitude control, pointing, or precision control systems. Experience developing analysis scripts, verification tools, automated workflows, or simulation post-processing tools using MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or similar environments. Strong understanding of control-system fundamentals, including stability, bandwidth, disturbance rejection, sensor/actuator dynamics, frequency-domain analysis, time-domain response, and closed-loop performance. Experience with spacecraft attitude control, pointing budgets, jitter analysis, line-of-sight stability, or precision pointing verification. Experience developing, reviewing, or verifying requirements, ICDs, analyses, test plans, or verification evidence. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to work effectively across internal teams, vendors, and technical disciplines. Preferred Qualifications 10+ years of experience in spacecraft GN&C, AOCS/ADCS, precision pointing, control systems, simulation development, or high-stability aerospace systems. Experience owning or significantly contributing to an end-to-end spacecraft pointing, GN&C, AOCS/ADCS, or precision-control simulation. Experience with high-precision pointing missions, space telescopes, optical payloads, astronomy missions, Earth-observation missions, laser communication systems, or other pointing-sensitive spacecraft. Experience with fine guidance sensors, fast steering mirrors, reaction wheel disturbance modeling, isolators, structural dynamics, jitter PSDs, line-of-sight stability analysis, or optical performance coupling. Experience integrating vendor-provided models into system-level simulations. Experience developing formal verification scripts, automated analysis workflows, or test-data processing tools for requirement verification. Experience with hardware-in-the-loop testing, software-in-the-loop testing, flatsats, simulators, EGSE, AOCS testbeds, or integrated spacecraft test campaigns. Familiarity with FDIR, safe modes, attitude recovery, target acquisition, tracking modes, slew planning, operational pointing constraints, requirements management, configuration control, and verification planning. \n $250,000 - $300,000 a year \n This is an exempt position. This role requires access to U.S. export controlled information. Candidates must be a U.S. person (i.e. a citizen of the United States, a permanent resident, or a legal asylee or refugee) OR receive approval from the U.S. Government to work with U.S. export controlled information.