Principal GNC Engineer
We are a unique, fast-growing, and trusted team focused on quickly and economically designing, building, launching, and operating state-of-the-art satellites for advanced mission constellations.
Terran Orbital is seeking an experienced Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) Engineer to join our growing team. The Principal GNC Engineer will join a collaborative team developing innovative small satellite vehicle solutions for multiple projects.The candidate will be responsible for a wide range of analysis, software, hardware, testing, integration, and documentation in a fast-paced environment.
Key Duties and Responsibilities- Design, analysis, implementation, and testing of Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) algorithms for spacecraft
- Develop and maintain high-fidelity 6-DOF simulations with MATLAB/Simulink
- Support vehicle control system architecture sizing and definition
- Perform software-in-the-loop and hardware-in-the-loop testing
- Provide technical inputs and support for proposal efforts
- Support mission operations and anomaly resolution
- Provide technical mentorship and peer review for coworkers
- Lead GNC engineers through program execution
- Participate and lead technical discussions with customers and suppliers to ensure mission success
- Collaborate with Program and Product management to implement and manage tasks and schedules
- Perform all other duties assigned
- Master’s Degree in an engineering field with a concentration in dynamics and control
- Minimum of 10 years of related work experience
- Must have experience leading teams and mentoring entry-level engineers
- Demonstrated subject matter expert on GNC for space
- Demonstrated GNC engineering and software development using MATLAB and Simulink
- Strong fundamental understanding of orbital dynamics and classical mechanics
- Highly motivated, self-starting, and able to perform duties autonomously without supervision
- Passion for the new space industry
- Ph.D. in Dynamics and controls is highly desired
- Experience with autonomy for satellite constellations, orbit insertion, station-keeping, and collision avoidance
- Optical Communication Terminals (OCT)
- Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (APNT)
- Low and high thrust trajectory design and optimization
- Flight dynamics, Monte, navigation, orbit determination and mission operations for GEO and deep space
- Experience with the design of spacecraft flexible body control, Kalman Filtering, jitter analysis, rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPOD), fault detection, isolation, recovery.
- Hands-on experience with small satellites, robotic systems, or similar
- C++ and Python, experience
- 100% Company-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
- 401(k) Match
- Flexible Time Off
Salary Range $170,000-$220,000
Your actual level and base salary will be determined case-by-case and may vary based on the job-related qualification, knowledge, skills, education, and experience. In addition to base salary, we offer equity for each employee, 100% covered medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k) match, unlimited flex time off, covered life insurance, maternity and paternity leave, tuition reimbursement, employee referrals, and lots of swag!
About Terran Orbital
Terran Orbital is a leading manufacturer of satellite products primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries. Terran Orbital provides end-to-end satellite solutions by combining satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and on-orbit support to meet the needs of the most demanding military, civil, and commercial customers.Learn more at www.terranorbital.com
Physical Demands
An employee must meet the physical demands described to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In performing the duties of this job, the employee is routinely required to sit or stand for long durations of time, in addition to bending, reaching, and walking.This would require the ability to lift or move objects up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift or move objects up to 25 pounds. This position is generally sedentary, with substantial computer usage.
Work Environment
The job operates in a professional office environment but in a manufacturing company. This job routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and scanners.
Disclaimers
To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. In addition, please note that this position may require a current United States National Security clearance or eligibility for such a clearance.
Terran Orbital is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at hr@terranorbital.com.
Terran Orbital does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or staffing firms. To conduct business with Terran Orbital, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) must be executed and confirmed prior to submitting any information relating to a potential candidate.Without a signed MSA, Terran Orbital shall not be responsible to any individual or entity for any payment relating to any form of fee or compensation.
And, in the event that a resume or candidate is submitted by a recruiter, an employment agency, or a staffing firm without a fully executed MSA, Terran Orbital has the unrestricted right to pursue and hire any of those candidate(s) without any legal or financial responsibility to the recruiter, agency, and/or firm.