Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) Systems Engineer

Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) Systems Engineer

Astroscale

Didcot, United Kingdom

In your role as Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Systems Engineer you will contribute to the overall design and verification of the Guidance, Navigation (including Computer Vision), and Control subsystem for ASUK missions. You will be able to demonstrate your technical skill, ability to be a team player and ability to deliver in accordance with the various drivers associated with commercial organisations.

GNC systems for Astroscale missions require both standard and bespoke GNC & Computer vision algorithms and hardware, which need to be integrated together and with the wider satellite bus. This is often cutting edge, very complex, innovative and forms some of Astroscale’s most important intellectual property. This role will allow the right candidate to shape solutions for our missions.

Responsibilities

• Contribute development of GNC systems (requirements, FDIR, V&V strategy etc.) for Astroscale projects, ensuring integration of GNC algorithms, Computer Vision algorithms and GNC Hardware for RPO (Rendezvous and Proximity Operations) missions.
• Contribute to the logical integration of the technical GNC subsystem work packages and overall solution, including the subsystem development and verification plans.
• Collaborate with other engineering disciplines in the planning, design and development of AS mission/system to ensure required GNC subsystem performance and compatibility.
• Conduct state-of-the-art research into GNC (hardware and algorithm) designs relevant to Astroscale’s missions and perform subsystem level design and trade-off analysis.
• Support GNC algorithm development and GNC hardware selection and integration for Rendezvous and Proximity Operation (RPO) missions.
• Support development of GNC software architecture, with designs leading towards an overall GNC software solution.
• Liaise with customers and/or suppliers to characterize GNC system constraints/requirements, identify and/or present the technical GNC solution.
• Provide support to mission’s technical and programmatic leadership.
• Provide support and analysis for on-orbit operations of AS spacecraft.

Essential Skills

• Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or another relevant engineering/science discipline.
• 2+ years’ relevant experience in a GNC related field.
• Matlab/Simulink development skills – at least intermediate level.
• Knowledge and experience on the development of the GNC subsystem architecture.
• Hands on experience with at least 3 of the following:
  • GNC requirement derivation and verification.
  • Design and implementation of control laws and navigation algorithms.
  • Theoretical knowledge of guidance strategies for RPO missions.
  • Translating algorithms into operational flight software.
  • GNC hardware integration and test.
  • Knowledge of state-of-the-art GNC technologies/hardware used in space missions (technologies, trade-offs, procurement, data processing etc.).
  • Knowledge of various capture systems used for RPO missions.

Desirable skills

• Experience with implementation of RPO and docking algorithms/solutions.
• Experience with working with flight dynamics and a good level of understanding of relative orbital dynamics.
• On-orbit operational experience of satellite missions.
• C/C++ software development skills – intermediate level.
• Embedded software development skills – intermediate level.
• Knowledge of active debris removal missions e.g. RemoveDebris, e.DeOrbit, ATV, ELSA-d, CleanSpace, etc.