Guidance and Control Engineer IV - TS/SCI
About The Position
New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL. Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence. This unique opportunity is part of the Mechanical Control Systems Division, which is responsible for technology development, advanced concepts, design, development, delivery, integration and test, verification and validation, and operation of complex Mechanical, Thermal, Propulsion, Robotics, and Guidance and Control (G&C) systems. As a cleared Guidance and Control Engineer at JPL, you will work for the Guidance and Control Section in the Control Analysis Group. You will contribute to the advancement and development of spacecraft and payload/instrument guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) architectures, designs, algorithms, simulations, flight software implementations, performance validation and on-orbit commissioning and operations.
Requirements
- A Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering or a related technical field with a minimum of 9 years of relevant experience; or a Master’s degree with a minimum of 7 years of experience; or a PhD with a minimum of 5 years of experience.
- MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE TS/SCI CLEARANCE
- Robust technical background in modern guidance, estimation, and control for aerospace systems
- Proficiency in the research and development of advanced GNC systems for precision pointing
- Leads technical efforts; excellent communication and presentation skills
Nice To Haves
- GNC system architectures
- Precision payload dynamics and controls
- Advanced control methods (linear and nonlinear)
- Estimation (Kalman filtering, random processes, nonlinear filtering, computer vision)
- Linear and nonlinear dynamics, multi‑rigid‑body dynamics
- On‑board guidance and navigation (optimization, convex methods)
- Attitude estimation and control
- Precision pointing control
- Pointing, acquisition, and tracking systems
- GNC for autonomous aerial vehicles
- Rotorcraft dynamics and control
- Vision‑based navigation
- Terrain‑relative navigation (TRN)
- 3D lidar‑based navigation
- Fast steering mirror control
- High‑bandwidth mechatronics
- Active and passive vibration control
- Control of gimbaled or articulated platforms
- Controlled optics
- Optical wavefront and path‑length control
- Structural modeling and finite element analysis
- GNC‑related on‑board and ground calibration
- Integrated modeling (flexible structures/optics/thermal, dynamics and control)
- Time‑domain simulation and multi‑rate systems
- Small spacecraft design
- Multi‑vehicle formation flying
- Control of large monolithic or segmented telescopes
- Control of large distributed systems
- Aerodynamic control for deep‑space planetary exploration
- Comfortable working with Matlab/Simulink
- Strong background in technology development
- Experience with instrument/optical pointing systems and integrated GNC hardware/software
- Experience with lasers, detectors, fast steering mirrors, and high‑rate control systems
- Experience in autonomous system design and spacecraft autonomy
- Demonstrated ability to manage cost and schedule in new technology development
- General familiarity with signal processing
Responsibilities
- Conceiving, designing, analyzing, simulating, and evaluating complex GNC subsystem performance
- Delivering advanced algorithms and associated flight software code for integration and test at the GNC subsystem and system level
- Developing and executing detailed subsystem test and verification plans at the system level
- Leading teams that develop and operate GNC systems and coordinating the validation and documentation of subsystem performance prior to delivery
Benefits
- variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans
- paid time off
- learning
- rideshare
- childcare
- flexible schedule
- parental leave
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
