Senior GNC Engineer

About the role

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company that owns and operates the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform. We provide satellite imagery, automated analytics, and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets, and events globally. As a Senior GNC Engineer, you will contribute to the development, production, and operation of high-performance GNC/ADC systems for satellite constellations.

Responsibilities

• Perform ADCS subsystem analyses (e.g. agility analysis, pointing budget, pointing stability analysis), iterating with a multi-disciplinary team to optimize designs.
• Perform 6DOF simulations to verify satellite design and CONOPs requirements.
• Define and validate ADCS component hardware requirements and software service requirements.
• Carefully coordinate ADCS component software integration with software engineers.
• Develop GNC/ADCS control algorithms, autonomous behaviors, and failure detection/isolation/recovery protocols.
• Design sensor and actuator models as part of a high-fidelity satellite truth model.
• Develop test plan/procedures for ADCS-related production test and validation; review production data to assess flightworthiness.
• Support satellite launch and early operations (e.g. calibration) activities, in some cases out of business hours.
• Perform on-orbit telemetry analysis for satellite characterization and/or troubleshooting.
• Work closely with attitude control system hardware providers to provide technical oversight and review.
• Build, maintain, and improve GNC team infrastructure and processes.
• Seek out new technologies, tools, and approaches to maintain BlackSky’s position as a leader in efficient space systems engineering.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (or greater) degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field or equivalent experience (four years).
• At least five years of professional experience in spacecraft Guidance, Navigation, and Control and/or Attitude Determination and Control.
• Demonstrated ability to perform trade studies, simulations, and other analyses to support end-to-end ADCS design, development, and verification.
• Experience testing control systems for aerospace vehicles.
• Proficiency with linear and nonlinear dynamics, coordinate transformations, and rotation matrix / quaternion mathematics.
• Proficiency with Matlab and Simulink for data analysis and model development.
• Candidates must be a US Citizen for the program this role supports.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing satellites with extreme accuracy pointing requirements.
• Experience defining test plans/procedures and performing functional/characterization testing of ADCS components.
• Experience with orbital mechanics and orbit propagation.
• Experience developing satellite truth models in Matlab/Simulink for data analysis and model development.
• Experience collaborating with ADCS component suppliers.
• Proficiency with Python and/or C++.
• Able to balance system-level thinking with detailed problem solving.

Lifestyle at BlackSky

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Professional development
• Awesome swag

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Tukwila, WA is $135,000-$160,000 per year. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education.

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