Senior GNC Engineer

Spire
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with hands-on technical experience in spacecraft attitude and orbit control systems working in the nanosatellite commercialization domain.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with practical experience in spacecraft dynamics and control simulations, including hardware-in-the-loop testing
    — “Develop and utilize spacecraft dynamics and control simulations, including 'hardware-in-the-loop'”
  • Individuals who have worked with flight sensors and actuators for small spacecraft
    — “Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight sensors... Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight actuators”
  • Candidates who thrive in collaborative environments across R&D, design, and operations teams
    — “The GNC team interfaces directly with many engineering groups to conduct R&D, design, manufacturing, and operations activities”

Things to consider

  • Minimum three days per week in-office work is required despite a hybrid model
    — “Spire operates a hybrid work model, and this position will require you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office”
  • May involve access to US export-controlled software or technology
    — “Access to US export-controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with Kalman filters and their practical application in attitude estimation
    — “Have experience designing and/or implementing Kalman filters for attitude estimation”
  • Showcase hands-on involvement in laboratory and manufacturing testing of flight systems
    — “Be hands-on in laboratory and manufacturing environments during testing, integration, and qualification of flight systems”
  • Emphasize your ability to work with external contractors and internal teams for system improvements
    — “Work with external contractors, manufacturers, and internal manufacturing staff to improve reliability, yield, performance, and cost of flight systems”
  • Demonstrate familiarity with C/Python and embedded systems for flight software development
    — “Experience developing software using C/Python”
  • Show your capability in creating and maintaining integration and test campaigns for GNC systems
    — “Experience creating and maintaining integration and test campaigns for attitude determination and control systems”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • technical ownership of spacecraft attitude and orbit control software and hardware
  • design, model, analyze, integrate and operate attitude determination/estimation systems
  • provide support and analysis for on-orbit operations of spacecraft attitude determination and control systems
Typical background
extensive experience with spacecraft attitude dynamics and control algorithmsexperience designing and/or implementing Kalman filters for attitude estimationexperience with flight sensors for spacecraft attitude determination/estimation

Skills & requirements

Required

Spacecraft Attitude DynamicsControl AlgorithmsKalman FiltersFlight SensorsFlight ActuatorsLinux Development EnvironmentWorking With External Contractors

Preferred

Writing Flight SoftwareC Or C++ Development For Embedded SystemsSpacecraft DesignSpacecraft Assembly, Integration, And TestingSpacecraft Operations And MaintenanceIdentifying And Resolving System AnomaliesCreating And Maintaining Integration And Test Campaigns

Stack & domain

PythonCKalman FiltersSpacecraft Attitude Dynamics And Control AlgorithmsLinux Development EnvironmentFlight SensorsFlight ActuatorsLeadershipProblem-solvingTeamworkAerospaceSpacecraft DesignSpacecraft Operations

About the role

Original posting from Spire

As a GNC/AOCS Engineer at Spire, you will operate as part of a technical team who maintains responsibility across the full lifecycle of its engineering products. The GNC team interfaces directly with many engineering groups to conduct R&D, design, manufacturing, and operations activities, ultimately ensuring all current and future spacecraft systems satisfy their mission. 

Ideal candidates will embrace the commercialization of nanosatellite systems and adapt to low-cost, fast-paced systems design, development, and implementation methodologies that set Spire apart from our competition. In this fast-paced environment, the design to launch cycle is measured in weeks and months, not years!

What You’ll Do:

Technical ownership of current and future spacecraft attitude and orbit control software and hardware.

Design, model, analyze, integrate and operate attitude determination/estimation systems for small spacecraft.

Develop and utilize spacecraft dynamics and control simulations, including 'hardware-in-the-loop'.

Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight sensors, including magnetometers, sun sensors, inertial measurement devices, infrared sensors, and/or star trackers.

Design, evaluate, select, qualify and implement flight actuators, including magnetic torque elements, reaction wheels, and propulsion systems.

Be hands-on in laboratory and manufacturing environments during testing, integration, and qualification of flight systems.

Provide support and analysis for on-orbit operations of spacecraft attitude determination and control systems.

Work with external contractors, manufacturers, and internal manufacturing staff to improve reliability, yield, performance, and cost of flight systems.

Key Skills:

Extensive experience with a solid foundation in spacecraft attitude dynamics and control algorithms, with emphasis on practical application of knowledge.

Have experience designing and/or implementing Kalman filters for attitude estimation.

Experience with flight sensors for spacecraft attitude determination/estimation.

Experience developing software using C/Python.

Have experience or familiarity with the Linux development environment.

Have experience working with external engineering contractors.

Preferred Skills:

Experience writing flight software.

Experience with C or C++ development for embedded systems.

Experience with spacecraft design.

Experience with spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing.

Experience with spacecraft operations and maintenance.

Experience identifying and resolving system anomalies.

Experience creating and maintaining integration and test campaigns for attitude determination and control systems, including hardware and software.

Spire operates a hybrid work model, and this position will require you to work a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Access to US export-controlled software and/or technology may be required for this role. If needed, Spire will arrange the necessary licenses—this is not something candidates need to have before applying. #LI-MI1

Global Perks

🛰️ Name Your Satellite Program (NYSP)

🚀 Launch Attendance

🌴 Generous Time Off Policy

🎓 Education Assistance Program

🥰 Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

📈 Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)

👣 Family Leave

💪 Fitness Reimbursement

🧡 Employee Referral Program

🍉 Healthy snacks & beverages in every office

About Spire

We improve life on Earth with data from space.

Spire Global is a space-to-cloud analytics company that owns and operates the largest multi-purpose constellation of satellites. Its proprietary data and algorithms provide the most advanced maritime, aviation, and weather tracking in the world. In addition to its constellation, Spire’s data infrastructure includes a global ground station network and 24/7 operations that provide real-time global coverage of every point on Earth.

Spire is Global and our success draws upon the diverse viewpoints, skills and experiences of our employees. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status.

To help maintain a safe and secure workplace for Spire employees, all candidates who receive a conditional offer will be required to complete a background check. This may include criminal history and employment verification.

Please take a moment to review Spire's Global Data Privacy Notice for Employees, Contractors, Candidates and Visitors, as well as Spire's Privacy Policy.

Kindly be advised that communication regarding your application may come from @spire.com, @recruiting.spire.com, or from Candidate.fyi (our scheduling tool).

Source: Spire careers

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