Future Projects GNC Engineer

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.

We want you as a talented GNC engineer to help us in our mission by evaluating and optimizing the aerodynamic performance, determining mechanical and thermal loads, sizing and designing thermal protection systems of our vehicles, especially during atmospheric re-entry, but also during ascent. You will work closely with our mechanical, CAD and system engineers to optimize together the vehicle design and performances. You will be part of the Launch Systems Team within the Future Systems Department, and will report to the Principal Engineer of the project and the Future SystemsLead.

As an In-Orbit Services GNC Engineer, you must have a firm grasp of spacecraft GNC concepts and applications. You will work on all aspects of the GNC life cycle: spacecraft and mission conceptual design, subsystem requirements development, algorithm development, software implementation and testing, operations, and post-flight analysis.

Key Responsibilities:

In your capacity as Future Projects GNC Engineer, your role will continuously evolve, but initially your day-to-day duties will include:

• Take ownership of work packages or full future projects related to GNC:

  • Define functional breakdowns, high level requirements and their associated flow-down and manage / maintain the technical baselines to ensure that the design answers the needs of the respective project

  • Provide hardware and software architectures and conceptual designs, perform technical trade-offs, budget and performance calculations for GNC systems

  • Manage interfaces and requirements towards Flight Software, as well as Avionics and other hardware sections

  • Develop models or elements of specific GNC algorithms, especially for the launch, re-entry and landing of launcher or spacecraft elements

  • Develop high fidelity 6DoF simulation frameworks for model-in-the-loop testing and monte-carlo analysis, including inertial, atmospheric and orbital perturbation models

  • Collaborate with the Flight Software and Avionics teams to implement, test, verify and validate GNC algorithms in SIL and HIL testing

  • Provide development logic, implementation, verification and validation plans

  • Provide inputs to Flight Safety analyses related to GNC dispersions and reliability

• Ensure the delivery on time, on quality and on cost of the work packages in your responsibility

• In coordination with the Bid Manager, elaborate the technical and programmatic parts for GNC related work packages to submit winning proposals for new future projects

What we would love to see from you:

In the role of Future Projects GNC Engineer ideally, you will have the following:

• MSc. in Aerospace or related engineering discipline.

• +3 years of GNC engineering experience

• Work experience / participation in the ideation, conceptualization and preliminary design phase of a spacecraft or space system development project

• Strong understanding of classical dynamics, orbital and flight mechanics.

• Strong understanding of launch vehicle guidance and control.

• Experience with flight physics simulation.

• Software development experience in C++, Python and MATLAB/Simulink.

• Preferably experience with integration of ASTOS and Simulink simulations

• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry.

• Highly motivated to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up environment.

• Fluent in English. German, French or Italian is an asset.

Why you should join us!

What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:  

• We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind 

• We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them  

• We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?  

We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly. 
 
The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable.