Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer

LLNL•Livermore, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

We have an opening for a Senior Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer to support work on projects and initiatives with a focus on U.S. national security. You will be a member of an engineering team that will provide space mission engineering solutions for both national security and basic science investigations with sponsors including NASA, Department of Energy (DOE), Department of War (DOW) and other government agencies. As an engineering team member, you will work on all aspects of space system hardware – from design and analysis to assembly, integration and test. This position is in the National Security Engineering Division (NSED) within the Engineering Directorate at LLNL and matrixed to the Space Science & Security Program. This position requires full-time on-site presence due to the nature of the work. This position will be filled at either level based on knowledge and related experience as assessed by the hiring team. Additional job responsibilities (outlined below) will be assigned if hired at the higher level.

Requirements

Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. DOE Q-level security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship. Also, you must have the ability to obtain and maintain Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) access.
Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering or the equivalent combination of education and related experience.
Demonstrated ability to navigate ambiguous or undefined directions, identify key objectives, and deliver high-quality, impactful products or solutions.
Significant experience with GNC subsystem development/analysis, test and/or operations.
Advanced knowledge in performing dynamics and/or controls system design/optimization and/or analysis tasks using MATLAB/SIMULINK tools or Python.
Significant experience with life cycle of a space program from Requirements through Integration & Test and Verification.
Significant experience and ability to take initiative, proactively identify opportunities or challenges, and independently drive projects or tasks to successful completion.
Advanced verbal and written communication skills necessary to effectively collaborate in a team environment and present and explain technical information and provide advice to management.
Significant experience with orbit determination and analysis
Subject matter expert knowledge of highly advanced concepts related to aerospace and/or spacecraft engineering.
Significant experience and demonstrated track record of success developing and implementing creative solutions to a diverse range of highly complex multi-disciplinary problems and leading corrective actions where necessary.
Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple parallel tasks, often requiring the resolution of conflicting work requirements and prioritization of tasks toward predetermined long-range targets.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD degree in aeronautical/aerospace engineering or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Active Q or Top Secret security clearance.
Experience in simulation/modelling of dynamic systems.
Experience with Satellite Rendezvous Proximity Operations or with satellite recovery operations and system failure analysis.
Significant experience with design/analysis software such as AGI STK, SSAPy, Battleschool or AFSIM; or with machine learning/reinforcement learning techniques and with LINUX/UNIX operating systems.

Responsibilities

Contribute to a team of scientists and engineers who develop technical proposals for spacecraft missions that involve system-level trade studies involving orbital mechanics, attitude determination sensors, attitude control actuators, navigation considerations, and Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) testing.
Apply linear/matrix algebra for complex analysis and reports.
Contribute to mission planning efforts including design and analysis of GNC subsystem concepts of operation needed to meet mission requirements.
Perform mission analysis including the orbits of potential missions.
Develop or review attitude control, attitude determination and navigation requirements for proposed missions.
Develop or review test plans and risk mitigation strategies for GNC hardware and software for proposed missions.
Take ambiguously defined direction consisting of complex problems and deliver useful tools and products.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Serve as a subject matter expert and apply highly advanced engineering solutions and technical analysis to resolve highly complex technical and programmatic issues.
Develop innovative methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria to obtain results based on in-depth analysis of multiple tangible and intangible factors.
Set broad research/project vision and provide strategic technical and consultative direction and advice to small teams and management and work as a primary technical contact on multidisciplinary teams.
May act as the prime consultant on large projects that affect the organization's long-term goals and objectives.