Sr Principal Engineer, Rendezvous & Proximity Operations (RPO), Guidance, Navigation & Control, Lead

Sierra Space•Centennial, CO

2d•$206,107 - $283,398

About The Position

Sierra Space is seeking a Sr Principal Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Engineer to lead the development, integration, and innovation of advanced GNC systems for spacecraft applications. This senior role requires extensive expertise across all aspects of GNC algorithmic design, autonomy, and system architecture. The successful candidate will drive technical excellence across programs and ensure scalable and reusable designs for multiple platforms. This role offers the opportunity to drive innovation and technical excellence in aerospace technology. In this role, you will drive program execution towards achieving key GNC milestones while sharing your GNC design and development expertise, serving as both a lead and an individual contributor across multiple programs. You will own the end-to-end design aspects of Guidance, Navigation, and Control on various programs and formulate GNC design, development, and testing architecture and processes for new programs, focusing on flexibility, adaptability, and reliability to meet long-term program goals. Additionally, you will architect GNC sensor, avionics, and actuator frameworks in conjunction with FSW C&DH, provide input to Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) planning as a GNC expert on test configurations, and assist with HITL troubleshooting. You will also perform sensor and actuator selection and sizing based on program requirements, using and developing relevant design tools, and assist in AI&T by conducting HITL unit and integrated testing to verify GNC subsystem performance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field (or equivalent work experience in lieu of degree or master's +13 yrs experience).
Typically, 15+ years of related experience.
Extensive expertise in multiple programming languages and software development principles.
Ability to design, architect, and implement complex software systems.
Strong leadership skills to lead a team of engineers.
Ability to make high-level design decisions.
Ability to drive the strategic direction of the software engineering team.
Demonstrated project leadership, strong problem-solving skills, and effective communication with nontechnical stakeholders.
Ability to architect and oversee the technical aspects of large-scale projects, innovate, and make decisions on the adoption of new technologies and methodologies.
The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance is required.
U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with developing conceptual interfacing frameworks for sensors and actuators with avionics.
Experience with developing advanced optimization-based simulation techniques using adaptive and predictive control algorithms.

Responsibilities

Drive program execution towards achieving key GNC milestones.
Share GNC design and development expertise.
Serve as both a lead and an individual contributor across multiple programs.
Own the end-to-end design aspects of Guidance, Navigation, and Control on various programs.
Formulate GNC design, development, and testing architecture and processes for new programs, focusing on flexibility, adaptability, and reliability to meet long-term program goals.
Architect GNC sensor, avionics, and actuator frameworks in conjunction with FSW C&DH.
Provide input to Assembly, Integration, and Test (AI&T) planning as a GNC expert on test configurations.
Assist with HITL troubleshooting.
Perform sensor and actuator selection and sizing based on program requirements.
Use and develop relevant design tools.
Assist in AI&T by conducting HITL unit and integrated testing to verify GNC subsystem performance.
Lead end-to-end efforts in Rendezvous, Proximity Operations (RPO), and docking activities, including mission planning, trajectory optimization, system integration, and operational execution to ensure precise and reliable spacecraft interactions.
Explain complex design concepts, sub-system relationships, and internal GNC interactions to the team.
Train and guide GNC engineers for career development.
Develop high-level roadmap program documentation.
Establish and understand complex relationships between different sub-system requirements and GNC, leading to critical design decisions.
Perform formal tasking and delegation to track progress.
Share in-depth subject matter knowledge with the team.