Darwin Recruitment are currently hiring for a GNC Engineer on behalf of a business in the UK that are tackling the problem of space debris and making space operations more sustainable since 2013. The technology which they are developing to capture uncontrolled space debris is truly pioneering and will reclaim our orbital environments for future generations. This technology heavily depends on complex Guidance, Navigation and Control (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; they 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 them and help make history. The GNC team is responsible for all aspects of the companies GNC subsystems inclusive of algorithms, simulations, payload and hardware. The day-to-day activities of their 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 overall subsystem hardware/software including a large part of the spacecraft payload.

Responsibilities

* Contribute to GNC algorithm development – analyse, design, implement and validate algorithms for RPO (Rendezvous and Proximity Operations), working other engineering disciplines (especially flight dynamics, flight software) to develop safe GNC algorithm solutions which meets the companies project requirements (inc. technical and programmatic).

* Ensure logical and well managed configuration control of the GNC algorithms.

* Support development of GNC software architecture, with designs leading towards an overall GNC software solution.

* Conducting and planning state-of-the-art research into GNC algorithm designs relevant to the companies missions.

* Design of GNC simulator models/functionalities.

* Contribute to current development-focussed GNC activities as well as future production-focussed GNC activities e.g. QA (Quality Assurance) processes.

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, Python, C/C++.

* Experience of GNC algorithm design e.g. navigation filters, guidance strategies and/or controllers.

* Experience designing fault-tolerant GNC systems e.g. fault-tolerant algorithm / software design

* Experience of Systems Engineering.

* 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.

Darwin Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

James Godfrey