GNC Engineer, Device Navigation and Beam Pointing (Starlink)

Responsibilities

• Design and analysis of GNC logic for consumer and enterprise Starlink phased array antennas.
• Real-time angular and translational navigation using onboard sensors and optimal state estimation techniques.
• Design of beam-steering logic to track and hand-off satellites while maximizing link integrity in challenging operational environments.
• Develop features which will enable Starlink to be deployed in a variety of new applications, including ships, aircraft, spacecraft, and more.
• Provide engineering and data review support for hardware development, special projects, and customer support triage.
• Work with hardware engineers on the design and specification of future user terminal products and their navigation sensor packages.
• Model derivation and high fidelity simulation for development and validation of prototype features.
• Implementation, validation, unit testing, and deployment of production software (C++) pertinent to the systems described above.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, physics, or an engineering discipline.
• Experience in Software Development for physical systems or real-world hardware.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Master's degree or PhD in physics or an engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated project or professional experience in state estimation, feedback control, robotics, antenna design and actuation, RF or similar.
• Experience interfacing with real world hardware, beyond simulations (sensors, robotics, autonomous vehicles, etc..).
• Experience implementing state estimation algorithms and/or attitude determination.
• Direct experience with inertial navigation systems.
• Direct experience with GNSS.
• Multi-GNSS measurement models.
• Loose/tight coupling state estimation.
• Carrier phase compensation and integer ambiguity resolution.
• Ionospheric compensation and modeling via radio occultation measurements.
• Externally supplied constellation ephemeris + clock augmentation.
• PPP/RTK.
• Experience with GNSS receiver and antenna hardware and integration (time synchronization, PTP, PPS, receiver firmware and RTCM protocol).
• Linux development experience.
• Strong understanding of classical dynamics, modeling and simulation, and software development.
• Capable of identifying and solving complex problems with little to no supervision or direction.
• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry.
• Able to work in a fast-paced, autonomously-driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

Pay Range

Device Navigation and Beam Pointing/Level I: $125,000.00 - $145,000.00/per year
Device Navigation and Beam Pointing/Level II: $145,000.00 - $175,000.00/per year

Requirements

• 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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.