GNC Orbit Controls Engineer

About the role

Xona is seeking a GNC Orbit Controls Engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate will develop and implement algorithms and onboard software to manage spacecraft orbits, ensuring precise station-keeping and disposal processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop open-loop and closed-loop controllers for altitude management, station-keeping, and end-of-life disposal
• Implement and maintain onboard orbit propagators, select and validate integrators, and ensure numerical consistency with ground truth
• Build orbit determination pipelines using EKF with GNSS
• Design burns and long-arc trajectories, and optimize delta V and timelines under comm visibility, power and thermal, and operations constraints
• Coordinate burn pointing and wheel momentum strategy with ADCS
• Maintain numerically consistent MATLAB and C++ simulators, create Monte Carlo campaigns, run SIL and HIL tests, and perform post-maneuver reconstruction

Requirements

• You are familiar with orbital mechanics and simulation and have had exposure with onboard propagators with perturbation models and integrators on flight targets
• You have GNC software experience in C++ and MATLAB for analysis, modeling, and test-vector generation
• You have supported real maneuvers and can reconcile plan versus truth with post-burn estimation
• You are comfortable at the ADCS and propulsion interface for burn pointing and momentum management

Qualifications

• You have a B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Control Systems, Applied Physics, or a related field
• You are familiar with electric propulsion including thrust modeling and calibration, long-burn guidance, duty-cycle planning, and thermal constraints
• You have trajectory design and optimization expertise
• You are familiar with CCSDS ephemeris and attitude formats

Desired Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Control Systems, Applied Physics, or a related field
• Familiar with electric propulsion including thrust modeling and calibration, long-burn guidance, duty-cycle planning, and thermal constraints
• Trajectory design and optimization expertise
• Familiarity with CCSDS ephemeris and attitude formats

Pay

Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Full-time position with flexible working hours.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.