Junior GNC Verification Engineer

Astroscale is looking for an ambitious and motivated graduate or early career Junior Engineer to join our team at Harwell Campus in the UK.

Astroscale is developing technology to capture uncontrolled space debris which is truly pioneering and will reclaim our orbital environments for future generations. This technology heavily depends on complex GNC subsystems which enable our spacecraft to carry out their missions.

Rendezvous, proximity operations and docking with uncontrolled and sometimes unprepared objects is no easy endeavour; we are therefore looking for someone who is ready to work with a group of like-minded GNC Engineers to face the many challenges ahead of us and help make history.

The GNC team is responsible for all aspects of Astroscale’s GNC subsystems inclusive of algorithms, simulations, payload and hardware. The day-to-day activities of our team include the design of complex trajectories, manoeuvres, guidance and control algorithms, navigation algorithms and simulator models as well as having the wider responsibility for the specification and integration of the GNC subsystem hardware/software, including a large part of the spacecraft payloads.

The successful candidate will join an experienced and competent group of welcoming like-minded people who make up the global GNC team and bring an optimal mix of GNC experience from both the commercial and academic worlds.

The successful candidate must be a team player and be supported to deliver in accordance with the various drivers associated with commercial organisations, whether these are contractual, schedule or other.

Responsibilities

• Design, optimisation and test of GNC algorithms e.g. navigation filters, guidance strategies and controllers.
• Design of GNC simulator models/functionalities.
• Design of GNC architecture solutions for feasibility studies.
• Contribute to GNC verification/robustness testing infrastructure.
• Contribute to development of automated quality control processes for algorithm/simulator development.
• Support development of payload and hardware trade-offs and state-of-the-art RPO (Rendezvous and Proximity Operations) sensor technologies and fusion techniques.
• Contribute to system level activities, such as: defining FMECA (Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analysis) and FDIR (Fault/Failure Detection, Isolation, and Recovery) processes.
• Contribute to V&V (Verification and Validation), subsystem/spacecraft integration planning and execution.
• Perform GNC subsystem development testing with EM (Engineering Model) hardware using dedicated testbeds.
• Contribute to current development-focussed GNC activities as well as future production-focussed GNC activities e.g. QA (Quality Assurance) processes.

Requirements

Essential Skills

• Diploma; bachelor or master’s degree in aerospace engineering or another relevant engineering/science discipline.
• Experience with simulation packages commonly used for aerospace simulations e.g. MATLAB/Simulink and Python.
• Can work both autonomously with initiative, and collaboratively as part of the wider GNC/project groups.
• Can strike a good balance between a creative approach to Engineering and being able to deliver on time to business requirements.

Desirable Skills

• Experience of GNC algorithm design e.g. navigation filters, guidance strategies and/or controllers.
• Experience of GNC hardware integration/test.
• Experience of Systems Engineering.
• Knowledge and experience of GNC rendezvous and pose estimation sensors and methods.
• Knowledge of missions concerning active debris removal or RPO: RemoveDebris, CleanSpace / ESA projects e.g. e.DeOrbit, DEOS, ATV, ETS-7, DARPA Express.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Opportunity to work with a highly talented international team working on cutting edge technology
• Flexible working around core hours
• Hybrid working available (dependent on individual role requirements)
• 25 days holiday (increasing yearly up to a maximum of 28 days) + 8 days Bank Holiday
• Life insurance and long-term sick pay
• Private healthcare (taxable benefit)
• Relocation allowance
• New state of the art office and cleanroom facility
• Regular social events

About Astroscale

We aim to deliver cutting edge technologies that will become part of routine commercial space operations by 2030.

Astroscale is the first private company with a vision to secure the safe and sustainable development of space for the benefit of future generations, and the only company dedicated to in-orbit servicing across all orbits.

Founded in 2013, we are developing innovative and scalable solutions across the spectrum of in-orbit servicing missions, including End of Life services, Active Debris Removal, In-situ Space Situational Awareness and Life Extension Services, to create sustainable space systems and mitigate against the hazardous build-up of debris in space.

Astroscale is an Equal Opportunities employer and embraces a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.