GNC/AOCS Senior Engineer

GNC/AOCS Senior Engineer

Indra Group

Portugal

Responsibilities:

Indra Space is selecting one engineer to be integrated in the GNC/AOCS Competence Centre of the Flight Systems Business Unit, to support new growth areas in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC), including Attitude and Orbit Control Systems (AOCS), and Failure Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR).

The work of the GNC/AOCS Competence Centre is oriented to the design, development, specification, and validation of autonomous systems, including GNC and AOCS systems, for a broad range of aerospace and aeronautical platforms. As a matter of reference activities cover:

• Satellite formation flying, rendezvous, in-orbit servicing (IOS) and active debris removal (ADR);
• Entry, descent, and landing on planets (Earth, Mars) & natural satellites;
• Launch vehicles;
• Earth observation, up-stream (flight segment) and downstream;
• Interplanetary exploration and navigation;
• Unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs, UGVs);
• System and mission design.

The following types of responsibilities are envisioned:

• Specification, design, implementation, and validation of AOCS and FDIR algorithms, to be applied to Earth-observation, interplanetary, and satellites, among others; and/or
• Specification, design, implementation, and validation of GNC and FDIR algorithms, to be applied to satellites, launchers, and re-entry vehicles, among others; and/or
• Specification and support to procurement of sensors and actuators for GNC and AOCS.

The activities involved may include:

• Model-based design implementation of GNC/AOCS algorithms;
• Simulator design, implementation, and testing;
• Simulation of dynamic systems;
• Mathematical modelling;
• Specification and validation of GNC/AOCS solutions;
• Analysis and trade-off of hardware solutions;
• Interface with the overall system team;
• Technical and team management.

What are we looking for?

• Engineering degree as Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Electronic or a related degree or Postgraduate studies (MSc or PhD) with a focus on aeronautical/aerospace engineering and providing a solid background in at least two of the following (desired):
  • Orbital mechanics and atmospheric flight dynamics;
  • FDIR design, implementation, and validation;
  • Classical and robust control techniques (including fixed-structure H¥ synthesis, m analysis, LPV control);
  • Flight operations;
  • Model-based system engineering.
• Engineer with at least 3/5 years of experience in the practical application of the domains relevant to the post (relevant MSc & PhD studies would also be considered);
• Solid background in control and simulation of dynamic systems;
• Practical experience in aeronautical/aerospace GNC/AOCS and FDIR solutions (experience in ESA/European programmes is welcome);
• Capacity to understand new concepts and apply them to engineering problems;
• Good programming skills;
• Experience with Matlab and Simulink;
• English fluent;
• Capability to integrate in and work within a team;
• Self-initiative;
• Autonomy and self-development;
• Responsibility towards the customer and colleagues.

Desired:

• Experience in flight operations in ESA or European programmes;
• Solid theoretical background in GNC AOCS;
• Background on multivariable robust control;
• Experience in atmospheric flight;
• Experience with Python and C;
• Background on modelling of environment and A/C or S/C elements.