Senior Spacecraft GN&C Engineer

We are seeking a Senior Spacecraft GN&C Engineer to own the implementation, maintenance, and validation of the mission’s end-to-end pointing control simulation for advanced space observatory missions.

This is a hands-on modeling, simulation, and verification role. The engineer will implement the integrated pointing simulation, incorporate vendor models and assumptions, develop scripts for pointing verification, process simulation and test outputs, and generate evidence for subsystem and system-level requirement verification.

The role will directly support the spacecraft pointing lead and will work closely with systems engineering, spacecraft bus, telescope, WCC, FSM, instrument, jitter, structural, science, AI&T, software, and mission operations teams.

The ideal candidate has strong experience in spacecraft GN&C, AOCS/ADCS, control-system modeling, pointing systems and analysis, simulation development, and verification of precision pointing systems.

Key responsibilities for this role include the following:

End-to-End Pointing Control Simulation, Modeling, and Vendor Model Integration

• Own the implementation, maintenance, and validation of the mission’s integrated pointing control simulation. The simulation will be used to assess spacecraft attitude control, fine pointing, WCC-guided Fine Steering Mirror control, jitter sensitivity, line-of-sight stability, target tracking, control mode transitions, disturbance rejection, control stability margins, and pointing requirement compliance.
• Perform hands-on GN&C modeling and analysis using MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or similar tools, including control-loop analysis, frequency-domain analysis, time-domain simulations, Monte Carlo cases, sensitivity studies, model correlation, and performance trades
• Integrate GN&C, AOCS, WCC/guider, FSM, jitter, structural, and pointing models from internal teams and vendors
• Document key assumptions and limitations
• Ensure model inputs are technically consistent, traceable, and suitable for design trades, verification planning, AI&T, commissioning, operations support, and formal system-level pointing verification

Pointing Verification Scripts, AI&T, Commissioning, and Operations Support

• Develop and maintain scripts, tools, and automated workflows for pointing verification at subsystem and system level. These tools will process simulation outputs, vendor analysis products, jitter data, test data, and telemetry-like data to evaluate pointing accuracy, pointing knowledge, line-of-sight stability, jitter, target tracking, mode transitions, and AOCS/FSM performance.
• Generate repeatable verification outputs, margin assessments, plots, reports, and evidence needed for formal V&V closure.
• Develop or adapt analysis tools for test-data processing, model validation, pointing-performance verification, commissioning checks, anomaly investigation, and performance trending during AI&T, launch readiness, commissioning, and operations
• Support subsystem- and system-level tests involving pointing modes, target acquisition, tracking, slew behavior, control mode transitions, FSM operation, WCC-guided FSM control, and operational pointing scenarios

Jitter and Line-of-Sight Stability

• Support jitter and line-of-sight stability verification by ensuring disturbance sources, structural dynamics, reaction wheel behavior, isolation systems, FSM performance, WCC-FSM control loop, and payload sensitivities are properly represented in the simulation and analysis tools
• Help interpret jitter PSDs, disturbance transfer functions, control-loop interactions, and pointing stability results for use in engineering budgets, science simulations, and verification products.

WCC, FSM, and AOCS Interfaces

• Support the analysis and verification of control…