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Full-Time

Director – Gnc

Updated on 10/8/2024

Capella Space

Capella Space

201-500 employees

Provides high-quality SAR imagery products

Aerospace
Data & Analytics

Compensation Overview

$176.7k - $234.1kAnnually

Senior, Expert

Lafayette, CO, USA

Willingness to travel to Capella SF and CO offices as needed.

Category
Propulsion
Flight Dynamics
Aerospace Engineering
Required Skills
Python
Data Structures & Algorithms
Requirements
  • 15+ Years in the field of GNC/ADCS/Flight Dynamics on complex space programs.
  • Strong working knowledge of orbital mechanics, space system control systems, and the space environment.
  • Hands-on, project level experience, in at least one of the following areas: formation flying, repeat orbit acquisition, precision orbit maneuvering.
  • Working knowledge of common software tools and languages such as Python and C/C++.
  • Proven ability to lead a diverse team through complex projects.
  • Ability to work in a dynamic environment with high degree of uncertainty.
  • Excellent communication skills.
  • Ability managing conflicting priorities, approaches, ideas, and requirements.
  • Willingness to travel to Capella SF and CO offices as needed.
  • To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Capella Employees must be a U.S. citizen, lawful U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce, as applicable.
Responsibilities
  • Lead the growing Capella GNC team.
  • Manage and mentor engineers on the team.
  • Provide technical expertise related to GNC within the team and on projects throughout the company.
  • Perform resource allocation across company projects.
  • Define and provide accountability for short-term (quarterly) and long-term (annual) team goals that support company objectives.
  • Collaborate with and support adjacent teams with operationalizing GNC & Flight Dynamics systems & CONOPS. Support and define on-call support rotation for spacecraft operations.
  • Design and implement orbit determination, orbit propagation, and automated thrust maneuvering in an operational system.
  • Design and implement state estimators and control algorithms for the localization and pointing of radar-imaging spacecraft.
  • Support trade studies and concept development for future missions through constellation design, defining system performance requirements to satisfy high level mission objectives, and conducting hardware system sizing, design, and vendor selection.
  • Manage ADCS and Propulsion vendors and stay up to date on market offerings.
  • Define & implement the technology roadmap related to GNC in collaboration with senior leaders and in-line with the company strategic objectives.
  • Coordinate and/or manage portfolio of development projects in collaboration with the company Program Management Office (PMO).

Capella Space offers high-quality Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery for earth observation, enabling the capture of detailed images of landscapes and small-scale movements on the Earth's surface. The company serves various sectors, including agriculture, shipping, and government, by providing timely and accurate data that can be easily integrated into their operations. Capella differentiates itself by delivering data more frequently and rapidly through a scalable satellite constellation. The goal is to help clients manage risk and improve decision-making with high-quality data products.

Company Stage

Series C

Total Funding

$258.5M

Headquarters

San Francisco, California

Founded

2016

Growth & Insights
Headcount

6 month growth

4%

1 year growth

8%

2 year growth

17%
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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Capella's partnerships with industry leaders like SpaceX and TCarta enhance its technological capabilities and market reach.
  • The introduction of automated, AI-powered vessel classification and detection services showcases Capella's commitment to innovation and expanding its service offerings.
  • Joining Space ISAC and co-chairing the LEO Owner Operators Affinity Group positions Capella as a leader in space security and collaborative threat intelligence.

What critics are saying

  • The competitive landscape in earth observation and satellite data services is intense, with major players like Maxar and Planet Labs posing significant competition.
  • Rapid scaling of satellite constellations and technological advancements require substantial capital investment, which could strain financial resources.

What makes Capella Space unique

  • Capella Space's use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology allows for high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night earth observation, setting it apart from optical satellite imagery providers.
  • Their rapidly scalable satellite constellation and fully-automated ordering and delivery platform enable more frequent and timely data delivery than traditional earth observation companies.
  • Capella's focus on customer experience and adaptability to client needs ensures high-quality, easily integrated data products, which is a significant competitive advantage.