GNC Engineer, Starlink Controls (Starlink)

SpaceX•Redmond, WA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

As a control systems engineer on the Starlink Guidance, Navigation, and Control team (GNC), you will apply a strong expertise in dynamics and closed loop controls to achieve robust and precise pointing on satellites, payloads, propulsion systems, and mechanisms. This is not just an analysis role – you will be responsible for vehicle design trades, simulation, flight code implementation, and ultimately deploying and operating your features in space. Come help us fly the world's largest constellation and make high speed internet available everywhere, all the time.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in aerospace, physics or an engineering discipline.
Software development experience in C++.
Experience with design and analysis of closed loop control systems.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline.
Very strong expertise and demonstrated project or professional experience in linear closed loop controls analysis and design, including state space and frequency domain methods.
Experience with flexible body dynamics and reduced finite element models thereof in the context of closed loop control systems analysis.
Expertise in state estimation, kalman filters, information filters, etc.
Strong expertise in embedded C++, ideally in the context of electromechanical control systems firmware.
Strong understanding of classical rigid body dynamics, orbital mechanics, modeling and simulation thereof.
Direct experience with spacecraft operations and flight software development, testing, and deployment.
Capable of identifying and solving complex problems in a self-directed manner.
Passion for advancing the commercial space industry.
Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere.
Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

Design, analysis, implementation of electromechanical control systems such as solar array actuators, antenna gimbals, and high bandwidth active optics.
Design, analysis, implementation of satellite attitude control and momentum management systems.
Design, analysis, implementation of fluid and power system controls for the Starlink hall thrusters.
Optimal state estimation as applied to mechanical alignment and attitude determination.
Hardware performance specification and sizing, support for hardware iteration and firmware bringup, design qualification, automated production screening, and performance monitoring in the fleet.
Development and maintenance of high fidelity simulations using C++, python, matlab, integration of those simulations into collaborative analysis tools.
Implementation, validation, unit testing, and deployment of production software (C++) pertinent to the systems described above.
Provide engineering and data review support for hardware development, network level performance monitoring.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
Short and long-term disability insurance
Life insurance
Paid parental leave
Various other discounts and perks
3 weeks of paid vacation
10 or more paid holidays per year
Paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law (for Washington State employees)
Company shuttles offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.