GNC Engineer, Fleet Management (Starshield)

Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.

As an engineer on the GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control), Fleet Management team, you will be responsible for the complete lifecycle of Starshield's constellation. The Fleet Management team designs the constellation through analysis and simulation, and then brings it into reality through satellite and ground software development. This is an opportunity to apply expertise in orbital mechanics to both define constellation geometry and implement the control systems necessary to maintain it (including orbit raise, station keeping, and collision avoidance algorithms). This all requires working collaboratively across engineering teams to represent the satellite system at the constellation level, ultimately defining scope and requirements for future vehicles.

• →Develop highly reliable and performant GNC algorithms, flight software, simulations, tools, services, and dashboards using C++ or Python
• →Participate in architecture, design, and code reviews
• →Constellation design and network-level analysis of both existing and proposed systems
• →Bulk analysis to review performance data from various elements of the Starshield constellation and hosted payloads
• →Write high-quality technical documentation of programs, algorithms, or analysis
• →Support your relevant on-call operations rotation, commanding satellites or reviewing data to keep our vehicles, payloads, and networks continuously operating at peak performance

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, aerospace, physics, or an engineering discipline
• Software development experience in either C++ or Python

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in an engineering discipline, computer science, or physics
• Experience developing, debugging, and deploying software that has been used in real-world applications/projects
• Creative approach to problem-solving, exceptional analytical skills, and engineering fundamentals
• Familiarity with numerical probability of collision methods such as Alfano, Foster, and Hall
• Experience with automating complex systems
• Strong understanding of orbital mechanics, including low thrust trajectory optimization and station-keeping
• Experience in verifying GNC algorithm performance via simulation, and validation of the simulation's models
• Experience with space-based sensor platforms and state estimation, particularly attitude determination, orbit determination, GNSS, and radio navigation
• General familiarity with the disciplines necessary for spacecraft flight including; structures, propulsion, avionics, GNC, flight software, dynamics, launch and mission operations, and integration. Practical experience in real-world development of these systems is highly desired.
• Capable of identifying and solving complex problems with little to no supervision or direction
• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one

• Able to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical path development and/or critical on-orbit operations
• An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol test

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.