Senior Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) & Propulsion Engineer

Capella Space • Louisville, CO

76d • $128,656 - $160,820

About The Position

As an Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS) and Propulsion Engineer, you will be responsible for the full lifecycle of the ADCS and propulsion subsystems for a constellation of radar imaging spacecraft. You will serve as a cognizant engineer for Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) hardware and software. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of engineers to ensure existing spacecraft meet their mission objectives and to design and develop next-generation systems. Your work will have a direct impact on spacecraft performance and the overall technical success of Capella.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience with GNC/ADCS systems on spacecraft, robotics, autonomous vehicles, or UAVs/drones.
• Direct experience with GNC/ADCS hardware: star trackers, sun sensors, reaction wheels, torque rods, control moment gyroscopes, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, GPS, etc.
• Solid understanding of state estimation/filtering and application to attitude determination and control.
• Solid understanding of rigid body and flexible dynamics.
• Demonstrated leadership of hardware development projects.
• Familiarity with orbital dynamics and the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space environment.
• Familiarity with one or more of the following disciplines: electrical engineering, chemical or electric propulsion, signal processing, embedded software development.
• Comfortable dealing with unknowns, quantifying risk, navigating uncertainty, and handling the pressure of a real-time operating environment.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and cross-functionally.
• Enjoyment of learning and teaching new skills.
• Proficiency in Python preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support ADCS and Propulsion systems for a constellation of spacecraft through the entire lifecycle: design, build, testing, on-orbit operations, and decommissioning.
• Generate ADCS and Propulsion systems performance requirements to satisfy high-level mission objectives.
• Perform research and development for new spacecraft, working from first principles to develop and execute trade studies, conduct system sizing and design, and present at design reviews.
• Design and implement state estimators and control algorithms for the localization and pointing of radar-imaging spacecraft; be a technical authority on control theory.
• Develop software to automate workflows, support design studies, and enhance spacecraft operational efficiency.
• Develop software simulations of spacecraft dynamics and system behavior.
• Be a subject matter expert for ADCS and Propulsion systems.
• Be a technical contact for ADCS and Propulsion vendors and keep informed of the industry landscape.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Benefits

• Extensive medical coverage, including strong vision and dental plans, flexible spending accounts, and additional supplemental health options.
• Paid Flexible Time Off Policy
• 401K Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
• Parental Leave program
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Commuter & Parking Benefits
• Mental Health Resources
• Monthly Phone Stipend
• Dog-friendly work environment & pet insurance options

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees