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Varda Space

In-orbit manufacturing with reentry return services

Senior GNC Engineer

Flight Dynamics & GNCPosted on Nov 13
Full-timeEl Segundo, CA, USA

About the Job

Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree in aerospace, mechanical, or electrical engineering, physics, or a related field is required; alternatively, a PhD with at least 3 years of relevant experience is accepted.
  • At least 5 years of proven experience is required, or at least 3 years of relevant experience with a PhD.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of designing, modeling, testing, and flying aerospace guidance, navigation, and control systems is required.
  • Highly developed software and model development skills, particularly in C++ and Python, are required.
  • Understanding of orbital mechanics, modeling and simulation, and software development is required.
  • Experience anchoring or fitting first-principles models to test data or high-fidelity external simulations is required.
  • System engineering and configuration management skills are required.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills are required.

Responsibilities

  • Specify ADCS hardware performance, including sizing reaction wheels, torque rods, IMU/GPS, and star trackers.
  • Design and implement autonomous satellite attitude control, collision avoidance, orbital rendezvous, burn planning, and atmospheric re-entry algorithms.
  • Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for space capsule reentry.
  • Develop six-degree-of-freedom vehicle simulations using C++, Python, and MATLAB/Simulink.
  • Run Monte Carlo analyses to characterize the performance of new vehicle and mission capabilities.
  • Integrate and test GNC sensors, actuators, and software in a hardware-in-the-loop environment.
  • Design and implement ground tooling for fully automated maneuver responsibility and maneuver scheduling decisions.
  • Monitor on-orbit system performance and troubleshoot as necessary.
  • Coordinate with other spacecraft operators, third-party agencies, and the U.S. government.
  • Own the full life cycle of GNC development, from design through unit, hardware-in-the-loop, on-vehicle functionality, and flight testing.
  • Perform system analyses, including simulations and Monte Carlo analyses, to satisfy specifications and requirements and inform system-level architectural and business decisions.
  • Contribute to an in-house aerospace simulation and test framework and develop and maintain design descriptions and supporting documentation.
  • Execute the GNC subsystem from initial analysis and design through vehicle integration, mission planning, flight, and support of on-orbit and reentry mission operations.

Desired Qualifications

  • A master's degree in engineering or physics is preferred.
  • Experience with spacecraft attitude determination and control system design is preferred.
  • Experience with GMAT, POST2, or similar tools is preferred.
  • Understanding of multi-body dynamics, flexible-body dynamics, gas dynamics, fluids, and thermodynamics is preferred.
  • Experience developing and verifying physical models for control design, component sizing, and system performance evaluation is preferred.
  • Experience supporting safety-critical flight tests or spacecraft is preferred.
  • Ability to continuously manage risk and provide solutions using lean, state-of-the-art software development techniques is preferred.

About the Company

Varda Space

In-orbit manufacturing with reentry return services

Varda Space Industries provides in-space manufacturing by operating production facilities in low Earth orbit and returning finished goods to Earth using reentry capsules. Clients send materials or designs to Varda’s in-orbit production line, where microgravity enables manufacturing processes not possible on Earth. After production, capsules re-enter Earth's atmosphere to deliver goods back to customers, supported by in-orbit equipment and reliable reentry systems. The company aims to make low Earth orbit accessible for multiple industries by building end-to-end space manufacturing infrastructure and industrializing orbit for commercial use.

Company size
201-500
Company stage
Series D
Total funding
$609.5M
Headquarters
El Segundo, CA
Founded
2020

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