Senior GNC Engineer

BlackSky • Tukwila, WA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company that operates an advanced space-based intelligence platform, providing satellite imagery, automated analytics, and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations globally. They deliver foresight to military, intelligence, and commercial clients, enabling them to understand and anticipate change. As a Senior GNC Engineer at BlackSky, you will be a key contributor to the development, production, and operation of high-performance Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) / Attitude Determination and Control (ADC) systems for satellite constellations. Your role involves performing trade studies, simulations, and other analyses to support end-to-end ADCS design, development, and verification. You will work closely with software developers to integrate ADCS components into flight software, define test plans and procedures for satellite production, and verify satellite flightworthiness. Additionally, you will collaborate with satellite operators to characterize and improve on-orbit ADCS performance. This role is a hybrid position based out of Tukwila, WA, and reports to the GNC Engineering Manager.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science (or greater) degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of professional experience in spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control and/or Attitude Determination and Control.
• Experience with Guidance, Navigation, and Control algorithm development and analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to perform trade studies, simulations, and other analyses to support end-to-end ADCS design, development, and verification.
• Experience testing control systems for aerospace vehicles.
• Proficiency with linear and nonlinear dynamics, coordinate transformations, and rotation matrix / quaternion mathematics.
• Proficiency with Matlab and Simulink for data analysis and model development.
• For the program this role supports, candidates must be a US Citizen.

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing satellites with extreme accuracy pointing requirements.
• Experience defining test plans/procedures and performing functional/characterization testing of ADCS components.
• Experience with orbital mechanics and orbit propagation.
• Experience developing satellite truth models in Matlab/Simulink for data analysis and model development.
• Experience collaborating with ADCS component suppliers.
• Proficiency with Python and/or C++.
• Ability to balance system-level thinking with detailed problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Perform ADCS subsystem analyses (e.g. agility analysis, pointing budget, pointing stability analysis), iterating with a multi-disciplinary team to optimize designs.
• Perform 6DOF simulations to verify satellite design and CONOPs requirements.
• Define and validate ADCS component hardware requirements and software service requirements.
• Coordinate ADCS component software integration with software engineers.
• Develop GNC/ADCS control algorithms, autonomous behaviors, and failure detection/isolation/recovery protocols.
• Design sensor and actuator models as part of a high-fidelity satellite truth model.
• Develop test plan/procedures for ADCS-related production test and validation; review production data to assess flightworthiness.
• Support satellite launch and early operations (e.g. calibration) activities, in some cases out of business hours.
• Perform on-orbit telemetry analysis for satellite characterization and/or troubleshooting.
• Work closely with attitude control system hardware providers to provide technical oversight and review.
• Build, maintain, and improve GNC team infrastructure and processes.
• Seek out new technologies, tools, and approaches to maintain BlackSky’s position as a leader in efficient space systems engineering.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Professional development
• Awesome swag

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior